The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka Neil Buhne appeals to donors:

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka Neil Buhne has urged donors to remain on course in helping the displaced people and returned communities in Sri Lanka as more funds were needed to cover gaps for humanitarian work in the country.




“The job is not yet done. It is still a critical period and we ask for your continued support to meet the remaining crucial needs,” Buhne said.



He also stressed that the effectiveness of assistance during this period will affect both the people directly and Sri Lanka’s overall development. “The welfare of the returned people, is an important element in reconciliation and ultimately, sustainable peace and development”.



The UN says combined efforts have ensured that over 300,000 people have had access to safe water and sanitation facilities. Common services such as health, nutrition and education have also made significant improvements in effort to normalize life in return areas and for those in camps.



Despite these real achievements, returned persons remain vulnerable, needing support until livelihoods are restored. Funding shortages have reduced the capacity to deliver immediate assistance to the residual camp population and returning communities. There are shortfalls for all sectors, but the largest are for work on Economic Recovery and Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation, Agriculture and Health, Buhne said.



Buhne says although generous donations of about US$ 125 million have made these response operations possible, US$ 165 million more is needed to cover gaps for activities planned by the UN and humanitarian organizations during the remainder of 2010 in support of the national programmes.



Over the last year and a half, through a broad partnership in support of Sri Lankan national efforts, hundreds of thousands of people who had to flee from fighting to safety, were given humanitarian assistance. Buhne says “Difficult, hard, and urgent work was done. Lives were saved and people helped to get back their strength to rebuild lives”, he added “funding for this work came from the Government, people throughout Sri Lanka and from donor governments. However, as all of us know, there is much more to be done - recently returned people are still vulnerable” (Daily Mirror online)