VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0643/01 1760918
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250918Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0155
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7013
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 3897
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3147
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 8773
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1761
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3615
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1253
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52//
RHMFIUU/CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//

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