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Access into Sri Lankan relief camps improves: UN

Last Updated 13 June 2009, 05:37 IST

In addition, work on an additional camp in the area has begun, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, adding that workers are clearing more areas for future camps.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters on Thursday that the Sri Lankan Government has addressed some concerns he raised during his recent visit to the country over humanitarian access to the camps.

"That said, conditions in the camps remain difficult, and I will continue to press for improvement, not least in vital areas such as freedom of movement and family reunification," he said.

Last month, the Government declared that its military operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had ended, and that all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) had left the conflict zone. The majority of those who fled are said to be in Vavuniya.

OCHA said that, between October 27 of last year and June 8 of this year, 280,812 people crossed to the Government-controlled areas from the conflict zone, including 3,194 who were registered last week.

It added that as of June 8, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) had delivered nearly 880 metric tonnes of food to IDPs in Vavuniya.

As of Friday, the Common Humanitarian Action Plan for Sri Lanka is 44 per cent funded, with some USD 69 million received out the USD 155 million required.

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(Published 13 June 2009, 05:37 IST)

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