Thaindian News

Colombo, July 9 (IANS) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will be closing down its offices in Sri Lanka’s east in line with a government order to scale down its operations in the country.
“As a first step, it will close its offices and withdraw its expatriate staff from the eastern province while winding down its operations in the area,” Jacques de Maio, the organisation’s head of operations for South Asia, said in a statement.

“However, the ICRC will continue its dialogue with the government on issues of humanitarian concern,” the statement added.

After crushing the Tamil Tigers, Colombo has urged the ICRC to scale down its operations in the island nation.

The ICRC has had a permanent presence in Sri Lanka since 1989. Its role in the country has evolved over the years, always in response to changing needs, the statement said.

The ICRC first responded to the needs resulting from an uprising in the southern part of the country in the late 1980s by Sinhalese-Marxist youths that left thousands dead.

Later, in connection with the conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), it carried out humanitarian activities which continued until earlier this year.

“The ICRC is in the process of reviewing its set-up and operational priorities in Sri Lanka,” de Maio said.

But in accordance with its mandate, the ICRC reaffirms its commitment to address the humanitarian needs of those directly or indirectly affected by the recent conflict, including displaced people.