Lifeline Daily Radio Show #150 (14 August 2009)

USAID Director of Mission, Rebecca Cohn tells Lifeline how her organization is supporting the early return and futures of resettled IDPs. The government sends more medical equipment and drugs to the IDP camp hospitals as today’s Radio Drama looks at the dangers of landmines.

• US gives food aid and calls for early resettlement

• Medicines and equipment sent to Vavuniya camp

US gives food aid and calls for early resettlement

Interview with Rebecca Cohn, Director of Mission for USAID in Sri Lanka

Could you please explain to us USAID’s participation in humanitarian assistance being provided to the IDPS in the North ?

We are one of the major donors in terms of assisting the humanitarian needs in the North, especially with the recently displaced population. We have provided last year almost $30million in food aid to the World Food Program and this year we are also contributing almost another $30million in food aid. In addition, we work with UN agencies and NGOs, both local and international, to help improve conditions in the camps so that they meet international standards in terms of shelter, water sanitation and health.

How do you seek to ensure the early return of IDPS living in the Vavuniya camps?

The US government feels it is very important that the people that have been displaced are returned to their place of origin, to their homes, as soon as possible. We do recognize there are certain preparations that need to be made and certain security issues that need to be taken care of but we believe that the early return of the people is a very high priority and this has been communicated to the Government of Sri Lanka.

What types of assistance are you going to provide to the families who are being resettled in North very soon?

We are a major donor in terms of food assistance and we have been discussing with WFP the provision of six months of dry rations – wheat flour, lentils and vegetable oil – which would be given to the newly resettled so at least for first six months, they won’t have to worry about their basic food items.

In addition, we have pledged a further $8million in assistance, to support early returns to restart their livelihoods. So if they are farmers, helping them with agricultural implements and seeds, or if they are fishermen, helping them with fishing equipment, cleaning out wells so they have access to water, maybe some repairing of irrigation canals.

We could also support Food for Work so people can engage in getting their communities up and running, small road repairs and things like that.

Medicines and equipment sent to Vavuniya camps

The Health Ministry yesterday sent medicines, furniture, surgical beds and surgical equipment for the IDPs in Vavuniya. Health Ministry Medicine Distribution Coordinator, Mr. Sarath Weerabandara says: “We cannot ensure that epidemics will not spread among people, but we have made all the arrangements to prevent diseases. We have increased the numbers of health staff there and stocked up with medicines. Recently, hospitals have been established in every zone and we have constructed storage areas near the hospitals where we can keep medicines for future use.” The government has also made plans to develop Chettikulam hospital.

Radio Drama: Kaalai Kuththum Pookkal – Flowers that bite (landmines)