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2009-07-14
COLOMBO – A donation from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), consisting of US$14 million (Rs.1, 600 million) worth of food supplies, has been warmly hailed by the United Nations World Food Programme. WFP said that the much-needed food commodities will be distributed to displaced and conflict-affected people in northern Sri Lanka who are currently accommodated in temporary welfare villages.
The U.S Chargé d’Affaires to Sri Lanka, James R. Moore, handed over the donation, which totals some 3,750 metric tons (MT) of lentils, 1,040 MT of vegetable oil and 14,700 MT of wheat. Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament and Senior Advisor to H.E. the President, Mr. W.K.K. Kumarasiri, Secretary of the Ministry of Nation Building & Estate Infrastructure Development (MNBEID), and Mr. Adnan Khan, WFP Representative, accepted the donation on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka.
“This donation comes at crucial time, and will allow WFP to continue with our important humanitarian interventions to assist the IDP’s, who have undergone extreme hardships,” said Adnan Khan. “The U.S. is the largest donor to WFP Sri Lanka and to our emergency operations, and this contribution demonstrates a commitment to partnering with the Government of Sri Lanka and the humanitarian community in peace building and reconstruction efforts.”
WFP says the USAID donation will allow the agency to assist 300,000 people for more than eight months under its Vulnerable Group Feeding Program, but added that additional pledges and contributions are urgently needed. The agency is currently facing a shortfall of US$ 15.2 million to cover humanitarian needs until the end of the year. Khan stated that WFP is proactively seeking funds from the international donor community to avoid pipeline breaks and possible ration cuts from August onwards.
Secretary of the Ministry of Nation Building & Estate Infrastructure Development (MNBEID), Mr. W.K.K. Kumarasiri described the donation as “a critical and significant contribution that will help consolidate the progress already made in improving the nutritional status and well-being of the IDPs.”
“Our donation will provide temporary relief to those staying in IDP camps, and will support efforts to return those displaced by the conflict to their homes as quickly as possible,” stated Moore. “We strongly support the desire of the Government of Sri Lanka to return IDPs to their homes safely and quickly so they can begin to rebuild their communities,” he continued.
Senior Advisor, Mr. Rajapaksa thanked Chargé Moore for his government’s donation and gesture of goodwill, and commented that U.S. support is vital in helping to respond to the urgent needs of the displaced peoples in the north. “We look forward to a long and positive humanitarian collaboration with the U.S.,” Rajapaksa added.
WFP is assisting the Government of Sri Lanka in feeding 1.2 million people through the emergency feeding programme and recovery programmes including food-for-education, food-for-work and mother-and-child health and nutrition.
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U.S. Chargé d’affaires James R. Moore presents $14.3 million of food aid from USAID to Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Special Advisor to the President and Member of Parliament. USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn (center), WFP Country Director Adnan Khan (right) and Mr. W.K.K. Kumarasiri, Secretary of Ministry of Nation Building (back) look on.
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