WFP: EFFECTIVE MONIRORING ON FOOD DELIVERY TO NORTH!

WFP approves US$117 mn in food aid to Sri Lanka
SL Embassy in Italy convinces major donors
The United Nations’ World Food Programme Executive Board on October 30, which studied the project proposal prepared by the former Country Director for Sri Lanka Mr. M. Salaheem and the Regional Director, Asia Division Anthony Banbury, has decided on a grant of 117 million dollars to Sri Lanka.
One of the major concerns of the friendly countries, supporting the proposal, was whether there would be opposition from the major donor countries on the grounds that the Government of Sri Lanka had prevented effective monitoring measures on food distribution by ordering all United Nations officials and other aid agencies together with the NGOs and INGOs to leave the conflict areas in Kilinochchi. The major claim of the LTTE and its supporters was that the Government effectively removed the aid workers from Kilinochchi to starve the Tamil population, thereby creating a humanitarian crisis. Before the Aid Paper was discussed, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Italy spoke to many of the donor countries and explained the position of the Government. They were informed that the Government had given such directives in order to prevent any harm being caused to the international aid workers and as the Government was currently unable to ensure the security and safety of the NGO community and requested them to leave the conflict areas temporarily.

The major donors, after discussions with the Embassy and its Deputy Permanent Representative Kulatunga Perera and Ambassador Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, were convinced that Government’s aim was to feed the displaced people and others who are still unable to get away from the LTTE held areas.

They were convinced that in order to achieve a fair and equitable distribution of food, the Government had sought the assistance of Government Agents and other officers. With these constraints against Sri Lanka the project was opened for discussions by the members of the Executive. During discussions, major donors to the WFP, the United States of America, Canada, Japan, Australia, Germany and the EU Representatives together with Thailand and Columbia spoke in favour of the Project Proposal being implemented without any amendments. The EU observed that it would be better to have effective methods of monitoring the distribution of food received by the target groups. Canada observed that the WFP may have to increase the supply of food to the Northern Province and for that funds may be required. The Project Proposal prepared by Mohamed Salaheem, the former Country Director, added that the Government was aware of the sufferings of the people in the conflict areas and was directing its resources to feed them.

After the project was approved, Mr. Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Italy and the Permanent Representative of the WFP assured the cooperation of the Government of Sri Lanka for the full implementation of the project. The Ambassador reiterated that the Government had taken effective steps to safeguard the security, safety and the welfare of not only the displaced persons but all the aid workers in the North. He also mentioned the fact that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had re-iterated his commitment to feeding the civilian population, held as a human shield by the terrorists and the government’s commitment to feed everyone irrespective of whether they were terrorists or not. He also brought to the notice of the Executive Board that the Eastern Province had been liberated from the clutches of the LTTE Terrorists and all the aid agencies are working in the there without any hindrance or constraints. He also mentioned that the objective of the Government of Sri Lanka was everlasting peace.

Mohamed Salaheem, who was the WFP Country Director in Sri Lanka, was able to transform any negatives in the WFP office in Colombo into one of the most respected United Nations Agencies in Sri Lanka. He has since been promoted to one of the leading position in the WFP in Japan and is replaced by Adnan Khan of Pakistan who held a very important positions as Inspector General of the WFP in Rome.

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