Report on the food supplies to Wanni by Commissioner General of
Essential Services
 The Commissioner General of Essential Services on
Wednesday (Oct 15) submitted a report to His Excellency Mahinda
Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on the on going operations to supply
foods to Wanni. The report states that the government has been able to
continue provision of sufficient food stocks to the civilians living in
Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu districts effectively despite non
cooperation of some international aid agencies . Further, the report
recall that it is the government of Sri Lanka that has been providing
foods to terror stricken areas during last 20 years and state that this
has been carried out with the utmost commitment to protect its own
citizen but not to satisfy any international agency.
Following is the report in full :
Food Supplies to Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu Districts
Introduction :
Food supplies to the above districts are based on three categories.
i.e.,
(a) People who were displaced prior to
11.08.2006
(b) People who were displaced after August 2006
(c) Food for sales to the general public by the
Cooperatives
The government of Sri Lanka under the supervision of
the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services maintains food
supplies to the first category. The World Food Programme(WFP) under the
supervision of the Ministry for Nation Building assists the government
to supply food to the second category of people. Food and Non-food
supplies for sale to the third category have been provided monthly with
the recommendation of the Government Agents of the respective districts.
The government has so far maintained uninterrupted supplies to all the
categories refereed to above. Details with regard to food supplies from
January to date are given in the below illustrated tables.
Emergency Operations
On the directive of H.E. the President, an emergency
operation was launched to ensure uninterrupted supplies to the
internally displaced people (IDPs) where they are currently located in
the above districts. The operational principles and modality for food
delivery under this programme was mapped out and executed under the
guidance of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, M.P. and the Senior Advisor to H.E.
the President. A high level Committee Chaired by him with the
following Members were appointed to monitor and over see the entire
operation.
i Hon. Abdul Risath Bathiyutheen - Minister
of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services
ii Secretaries of the Ministries of
Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services and Nation Building and
Estate Infrastructure Development
iii Commissioner General of Essential
Services
iv Chief of the Defence Staff
v Mr. Neil Buhne, Resident Representative of
UNDP
vi Country Director ICRC
vii Country Director WFP
In order to successfully implement the emergency food
delivery programme, the following operational principles were agreed to:
a. To maintain a buffer stock of nearly
5000 MT of essential food commodities (Dhal, flour, sugar,
vegetable oil ) at the logistic network already established in
Vavuniya. This arrangement was made to ensure speedy supplies to
Wanni instead of having to transport from Colombo.
b. An exclusive convoy of 75 trucks
containing 750 MT of the above food items to depart from
Vavuniya to the above districts weekly. All these trucks to be
sealed at the logistic hub in Vavuniya in the presence of Sri Lanka
Army to avoid security checks at Omanthai Entry/Exit Point.
c. UN/WFP Staff to accompany the
convoy to monitor the delivery of food to the allocated warehouses.
i.e., Kandavalai, Dharmapuram, Puthukkudiyiruppu and Mulliyavalai.
These warehouses were identified in order to ensure that food is
delivered to the places where the people are largely located
Performance
The first convoy of 51 trucks with 750 MT
of food items, which left Wanni on 3rd October 2008 successfully
completed its mission. The respective GAs have confirmed delivery and
distribution of the stock to the beneficiaries.
The second convoy of 50 trucks loaded with
750 MT of food cargo at Vavuniya logistic hub were to depart for
Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu districts on 10.10.2008 could not
proceed due to reluctance of the UN/WFP to travel on the new route
suggested by the Security Forces Commander in Wanni. The first convoy
travelled on Vavuniya, Mankulam, Oddusudan route and reached the
destination as referred to above. However, the second convoy was
advised to take the route from Vavuniya, Pullaiankulam, Nedunkeny and
Oddusudan. This change of route was decided due to security reasons.
Despite repeated requests by us, the convoy had not moved up to date.
Due to the failure of the WFP to move the food convoy,
it became extremely necessary to arrange an urgent procurement from
Vavuniya to ensure emergency food supplies to the above districts. On
the advice of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa M.P., the Commissioner General
with the assistance of the GA Vavuniya and Kilinochchi initiated an
immediate action plan to procure food items from Vavuniya on Sunday
(Oct 12). Consequently, 20 trucks loaded with nearly 300
MT of flour were sent on urgent basis to the above districts on
Monday (Oct 13), on the new route.
Due to a damage of a culvert on this route which was
caused by heavy rain the convoy could not move the same day. Having
completed immediate repairs with the involvement of GA Vavuniya, the
convoy reached the destination by Tuesday (Oct 14) evening, and
distribution commenced on Wednesday (Oct 15).
The GOSL continues to carry out the emergency
operation to ensure that its people in Wanni will get sufficient food
supplies without depending on the foreign aid.
The Role of the World Food Programme
The action of the UN/WFP to delay the 50 trucks
already loaded with the goods until security assessment of its
Mission is completed is unacceptable. According to the terms of the
Letter of Understanding between the WFP and GOSL, the overall objective
of the operation to be assisted by WFP. In other words, WFP is to
support the Government in its efforts to improve the food security of
vulnerable people in conflict areas. The Government is responsible to
implement the operation and for ensuring that the commodities provided
by WFP are properly transported, received, handled and accounted for and
distributed to the beneficiaries. Also, it will facilitate the safe and
unimpeded access for delivery distribution and monitoring of these
commodities. Security clearance for relief convoys that the government
wish to send including food donated by the WFP will rest only on the
Government and not on any foreign determination.
Under these circumstances, action by UN/WFP to
withhold this convoy is deplorable. This action has impeded the
uninterrupted supplies to Wanni Districts for which WFP should take the
responsibility. Certain attitudes of some UN Agencies and INGOs have
raised serious concerns in the recent past as well.
Conclusion
Despite all these impediments, action has been taken
by the government to fulfill its commitment to ensure uninterrupted
supplies and avoid any shortage of food. The Committee headed by Hon.
Basil Rajapaksa MP, has now decided to make arrangements to deliver a
convoy of 150 trucks containing basic food items to these areas.
The Commissioner General has directed respective GAs
to distribute the food that is already available in the Multi Purpose
Cooperative Shops (rice is available in plenty in these districts), in
the event of any shortage. The GAs have cooperated in this emergency
endeavour in an excellent manner. Coordinating Committee headed by Hon.
Basil Rajapaksa MP is constantly monitoring the operation and it will
ensure that there would not be any shortage of food to the displaced
people and the public of these districts at this period.
Further, the GOSL has not sought any logistic
supervision by any external agencies, as it is fully capable of
discharging all its relief and other logistic functions. Any attempt by
any agency to undermine its proven logistic role will have to be
considered as hostile to the Government.
There has been no control by the UN Agencies and other
Non-government organisations on actual distribution of the relief supplies
to the beneficiaries. The Government always welcome the
representation of the UN or other expatriate agencies to
accompany the trucks, if they wish to do so. The Government logistic
system works perfectly well to the satisfaction of the beneficiaries and
the UN partners. The
Government has been providing relief measures and logistic network to these
terror-stricken areas for over 20 years. It is being carried with
enormous difficulties and threat, not to satisfy the UN or INGOs but by
deep-seated commitment of the GOSL to protect and feed its own
citizens during these difficult years of their lives.
S.B.Divaratne
Commissioner General of Essential Services
Supply of essential food items to displaced people in
the Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu districts and non-liberated areas of
Mannar and Vavuniya north - January to October 2008 by the Ministry of
Resettlement & Disaster Management.
District
|
No of Displaced Families
|
Rice
(MT)
|
Flour(MT)
|
Sugar
(MT)
|
Dhal
(MT)
|
Total
(MT)
|
| Mullaittivu |
18,626 |
1,584.00 |
749.00 |
507.80 |
31.00 |
2,871.80 |
| Kilinochchi |
17,268 |
1,400.00 |
550.40 |
405.60 |
25.00 |
2,311.00 |
| Mannar |
7,024 |
194.70 |
108.00 |
43.50 |
3.00 |
349.20 |
| Vavuniya North |
13,487 |
184.50 |
158.00 |
141.50 |
|
484.00 |
| Total |
|
3,363.20 |
1,565.40 |
1,098.40 |
59.00 |
6,086.00 |
Transport of food & non food items for sale to the
general public in Thevanni by cooperatives in the Kilinochchi,
Mullaittivu districts and other non-liberated areas.
District
|
Metric Tons
|
| Mullaittivu District |
21,328 |
| Kilinochchi District |
19,900 |
| Mannar District |
540 |
| Vavuniya North |
1,315 |
Supply of kerosene to the displaced people in
Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu and Vavuniya north - January to October - 2008
Districts
|
Approved Monthly Quota Liters
|
Total Qty. Transported up to
October Liters
|
| Mullaittivu |
500,000 |
4,900,000 |
| Kilinochchi |
600,000 |
5,800,000 |
| Mannar |
130,000 |
690,000 |
| Vavuniya North |
300,000 |
2,400,000 |
| |
Total |
13,790,000 |
Transport of food commodities to the displaced people
in the Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu Districts and non-liberated areas of
Mannar and Vavuniya North - January to October 2008 under the World Food Programme by Ministry of Nation Building & Estate Infrastructure &
Development.
Districts
|
No. of displaces Families
|
Rice (MT)
|
Flour (MT)
|
Dhal (MT)
|
Sugar (MT)
|
Veg.Oil (MT)
|
CSB (MT) |
|
Mullaittivu |
11,308 |
1,375.310 |
1,833.540 |
306.351 |
42.300 |
141.487 |
73.340 |
|
Kilinochchi |
22,006 |
2,561.950 |
1,515.894 |
593.711 |
36.500 |
178.777 |
135.660 |
|
Mannar |
4,382 |
275.100 |
726.000 |
99.000 |
39.000 |
23.966 |
45.000 |
|
Vavuniya North |
3,543 |
454.000 |
576.520 |
645.458 |
28.406 |
29.142 |
73.125 |
|
Total |
|
4,666.360 |
4,651.954 |
1,644.520 |
146.206 |
373.372 |
327.125 |
|
Grand Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,809.537 |
|
