Friends,

We are today handing over to ICRC the second consignment of relief materials from India consisting of 40,000 family packs to be distributed to the IDPs from North Sri Lanka.

You would recall that in October 2008, we had handed over a similar consignment of 80,000 family packs to ICRC.  That consignment arrived within a couple of weeks of the decision taken by the two Governments to cooperate to provide humanitarian assistance to the IDPs from the North.

I am happy to note that this consignment has also arrived in Colombo, within a few days of the arrival of thousands of IDPs and reflects our commitment to respond urgently to the felt needs of the IDPs.

It was generally felt that the distribution of these family packs was the most effective way of distributing relief materials directly to the people.  We have therefore replicated that arrangement and in fact added to utility of these packs by adding a set of household utensils.

The ICRC had done an excellent job in distributing these materials.  We are therefore happy to partner with ICRC again.  I am confident they will be equally effective in distributing this consignment.  I also want to thank the Government of Sri Lanka for having facilitated the arrival and distribution of the relief materials.

As you will see from the composition of these family packs that they are intended to cater to the everyday needs of the IDPs.  Together the consignment weighs nearly 1000 tonnes, and is valued at Sri Lankan Rupees 150 million.  It will cover the food requirements of the entire population in IDP camps for about two weeks.  We hope within that period to bring in another similar consignment of relief assistance.

This is a reflection of India’s continued concern for the welfare of the IDPs, and our commitment to provide them humanitarian assistance.

As you know we have also brought in a field hospital which has already treated more than 4000 patients being evacuated by ICRC at Pulmodai.  We intend to relocate and expand this hospital in the Vavuniya region to cater to medical needs of the IDPs there.  Apart from this fully equipped hospital we have in addition gifted medicines and medical supplies worth Sri Lankan Rupees 100 million to the Government of Sri Lanka to be used in hospitals in the North and East.

I would now like to hand over the Gift Certificate to ICRC and once again thank Government of Sri Lanka for facilitating this consignment and to ICRC for agreeing to its distribution.

I thank you