Emergency Grant Aid to Sri Lanka for Internally Displaced Persons

May 1, 2009
Japanese

On May 1 (Fri), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of up to 4 million dollars (412 million yen) as assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
According to the Government of Sri Lanka, more than 170,000 IDP held as a human shield in the area controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have moved to the Government controlled area in the northern part of Sri Lanka since January 2009. This includes the move of more than 100,000 IDPs from 20 to 22 April. This assistance will be extended in response to the request for emergency humanitarian aid by the Government of Sri Lanka and UN organizations. It will provide the necessary funds for assistance such as the provision of tents, non-food supplies, water and others for these IDPs.
Japan has been actively working to bring progress towards a permanent solution of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka as a member of the Tokyo Co-Chairs. For the deteriorating humanitarian situation of IDPs, Japan has been strongly calling for the parties concerned to ensure IDPs safety and improvement of the situation. In light of these goals, Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid for IDPs in Sri Lanka.
Japan intends to implement immediate assistance in cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

(END)

Back to Index