Sri Lankan Government's Decision to Remove NGOs is Life Threatening - CID

By John Peter ? TNS

AUCLAND: The New Zealand Council for International Development (CID) expresses serious concern over the Sri Lankan government?s request for NGOs to leave the Vanni in Sri Lanka and said the decision to Remove NGOs is Life Threatening.

?New Zealand Council for International Development (CID)  is very concerned at the Sri Lankan government?s request for NGOs to leave the Vanni district and strongly supports the Australian Council for International Development?s Executive Director Paul O?Callaghan recent comments in the media,? a release from the CID said.

?Reports from our members indicate internally displaced people in the Vanni are already traumatized and in desperate need of food, medicines, sanitation facilities and shelter,? states CID?s Executive Director David Culverhouse.

?NGOs are there to assist these people and do so under the humanitarian imperative, that people have the right to receive humanitarian assistance,? he further said.

?NGOs also play an important role in monitoring the actions of combatants on both sides of the conflict. The removal of NGOs could create an environment where human rights violations may take place with a perceived impunity. We fear that this will lead to a bloodbath,? he warns.

?We therefore strongly support ACFID?s comments and urge the Sri Lankan government to reconsider its decision for NGOs to leave the Vanni region,? he urged.