UN to seek security steps before sending relief to Sri Lanka

A major UN food convoy carrying essentials for the internally displaced people in Sri Lanka's restive north was forced to turn back due to fresh fighting between security forces and LTTE in the region, prompting the world body to halt the supplies till the warring sides assure it of security.

The UN will seek renewed security assurances from both sides before attempting to make the route again, the world body's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Neil Buhne, said here after the convoy was forced to return.

The convoy the second to be dispatched in as many weeks had been headed for the northern Wanni in a bid to reach an estimated 230,000 civilians displaced behind the lines of confrontation in the districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

The World Food Programme (WFP) convoy was carrying 750 tonnes of food in 50 trucks when it left the town of Vavuniya on Thursday afternoon and was expected to reach its destination by the evening.

Intensified clashes between the military and LTTE in recent weeks have displaced tens of thousands of people and sparked warnings from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other UN officials about the humanitarian impact on civilians.

According to the officials, the UN convoy loaded with essential food items had crossed the Omanthai entry/exit point but had come under the LTTE artillery fire and a claymore mine attack and had to turn back to Vavuniya.

Officials said the Tiger cadres fired "indiscriminately" at the food convoy meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The lorries were carrying a large stock of medicine and essential items such as rice and sugar, officials said adding 18 other food lorries will be sent to civilians living in IDP centres in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

Five of the 18 vehicles will be distributing essential food items coordinating with relevant authorities in Mullaitivu district while the remainder will be distributed in Kilinochchi district.

Meanwhile, Commissioner General of Essential Services S B Divaratne submitted a report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the ongoing operations to supply foods to Wanni.

The report states that the government has been able to continue provision of sufficient food stocks to civilians in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts effectively "despite non- cooperation of some international aid agencies," state-run Daily News said.

"Further, the report recalls that it is the government of Sri Lanka that has been providing food to terror-stricken areas during last 20 years and ... this has been carried out with the utmost commitment to protect its own citizens but not to satisfy any international agency," it said.

Source: Hindu