SRI LANKA: JUNE 22 BILATERAL DONOR MEETING

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000643

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PRM
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA
AID/W FOR DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, JBORNS
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR ACONVERY, RTHAYER AND RKERR
BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA WBERGER
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA MROGERS AND POL SBERRY
USMISSION GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
USUN FOR ECOSOC DMERCADO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: JUNE 22 BILATERAL DONOR MEETING


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 22, Charge attended a bilateral donor
meeting hosted by Australian High Commissioner Kathy Klugman to
discuss current relief assistance to Sri Lanka and aid beyond the
emergency phase. Officials from the United Kingdom, France,
Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and the European
Commission attended and provided updates on their humanitarian
assistance to date. Charge reviewed U.S. assistance efforts, noting
that the U.S. would reconsider its position in light of benchmarks
measuring Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) progress by August 31. The
European Commission announced an additional USD 7 million in
assistance, but expressed concern over the GSL's lack of progress in
granting freedom of movement. Several other heads of mission
expressed concern over the obstacles to monitoring and accounting
for assistance, and over the broader ramifications or providing
assistance in the current political context. End Summary.

DONOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO DATE
--------------


2. (SBU) To date, donors have provided the following humanitarian
assistance:

- Australian High Commissioner Klugman reported that the Government
of Australia has contributed an estimated USD 25 million through
U.N. and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to
support humanitarian activities, including food aid, emergency
shelters, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
services.

- British High Commissioner Peter Hayes announced that the
Government of the United Kingdom has committed an estimated USD 18
million since 2008. Of the total, the government has contributed an
estimated USD 7.5 million to the U.N. for the purchase of ID card
equipment. Hayes stated that a portion of the committed funds would
be set aside in the event they are needed for a health emergency.
He anticipates receiving additional funds to support rehabilitation
activities.

- French Ambassador Michel Lummaux reported that the Government of
France has provided humanitarian assistance through the Office of
the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to support relief
activities for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Ambassador
Lummaux also reported that the government is supporting two French
NGOs that are providing medical assistance and WASH emergency
interventions. The government also established a field hospital
that provided temporary assistance to an estimated 2,500 IDPs at the
end of the conflict.

- Swiss Ambassador Ruth Flint stated that the Government of
Switzerland has contributed an estimated USD 4 million for emergency
activities through the ICRC and NGOs. Ambassador Flint stated that
an additional USD 4 million may become available to further support
the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

- Canada's High Commissioner Angela Bogdan reported that the
Government of Canada has provided an estimated USD 6.5 million
through relief agencies, including UNHCR and ICRC, for emergency
interventions.

- German Charge Stefan Weckbach stated that the Government of
Germany has contributed more than USD 7 million to UNHCR, the U.N.
World Food Program, and German NGOs to support relief programs,
including health and WASH activities.

- The Government of the Netherlands has provided an estimated USD
4.2 million for the delivery of relief assistance to IDPs.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION ANNOUNCES
ADDITIONAL AID
--------------

3. (SBU) Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka
Bernard Savage reported that the Commission plans to announce an
additional 5 million Euros, or approximately USD 7 million, to
provide life-saving assistance to IDPs. (Note: On June 23, the
European Commission announced the allocation of USD 7 million for
the provision of emergency relief supplies, as well as to support
health, nutrition, and WASH activities.) Savage indicated,
however, that the Commission does not plan to provide additional
assistance beyond these funds. According to Savage, it is becoming
very difficult to justify the delivery of more aid if humanitarian
agencies are unable to monitor expenditure due to lack of access to
temporary camps and IDPs.

U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
--------------


4. (SBU) Charge briefed donors on U.S. Government (USG) assistance
provided to Sri Lanka to date. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, USAID's
Office of U.S Foreign Disaster Assistance has contributed more than
USD 6 million to assist IDPs and returnees, including support for
health, logistics, protection, disaster risk reduction, agriculture
and food security, economy and market systems, shelter and
settlements, humanitarian coordination and information management,
and WASH programs. USAID's Offic of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) has
contributed 1,490 metric tons (MT) of P.L. 480 Title II emergeny
food assistance, valued at USD 14.3 million. Carge indicated that
USAID/FFP plans to call forward an additional 23,000 MT, valued at
approximately USD 15 million, if further emergency food assistance
is needed. The Department of State's Bureau of Political and
Military Affairs Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement awarded USD
600,000 to international NGOs for humanitarian de-mining activities
in the North, and noted that an additional USD 6 million may soon be
provided. In addition, the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and
Migration has provided USD 4.8 million to U.N. and international NGO
partners for support to IDPs and conflict victims.


5. (SBU) Charge noted that the timeframe for USG humanitarian
assistance is through the end of August. "We hope to assist in the
recovery phase, but there should be forward movement on the part of
the Government of Sri Lanka. Our focus would be on IDP return
packages that would include support for livelihood, shelter, and
water, sanitation, and hygiene programs," noted the Charge. Charge
also stated that the USG will consider benchmarks to measure
progress. These will include access to and conditions in IDP camps;
IDP registration; family reunification; identification, disarmament,
and separation of former combatants from general IDP population;
"low-risk" releases; IDP return and de-mining strategies; and
progress in political reconciliation.

DONOR CONSENSUS ON CONTINUED
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
--------------


6. (SBU) At the bilateral meeting, donors reiterated their
continued support to the humanitarian response in Sri Lanka without
any form of conditionality, although donors acknowledged the
challenges they are facing to justify further assistance due to
ongoing access issues. Canada's High Commissioner emphasized that
donors need to be able to audit and address accountability to ensure
that aid is reaching the most vulnerable populations. Bogdan also
stated that donors should focus on broader ramifications rather than
on conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid. The Australian
High Commissioner stated that the GSL has received international
assistance during the emergency phase and she anticipates that the
international community will likely continue to provide assistance
for the resettlement phase. Savage emphasized that advocacy should
center on freedom of movement for IDPs.

MOORE