CORRECTED VERSION: SRI LANKA: JUNE 22 BILATERAL

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000652 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: CORRECTED VERSION: SRI LANKA: JUNE 22 BILATERAL DONOR MEETING REF: COLOMBO: 643 ¶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 deliver 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 Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) has contributed 19,490 metric tons (MT) of P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance, valued at USD 14.3 million. Charge 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