The visiting US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Eric P. Schwartz yesterday expressed concern over the denial of easy access to international humanitarian organisations and others to northern welfare centres where 280,000 people were being accommodated.

Acknowledging that a serious effort had been made in the recent past to decongest the sites and improve sanitary conditions, he told a press conference at Galadari Hotel that the US was deeply concerned about a range of issues where further progress was essential. "In particular, the vast majority of displaced persons remained confined to camps, and my visit to Manik Farm and my conversations with them underscored for me the hardships they are enduring. Moreover, there remain burdensome limitations on access to those camps for those international humanitarian organisations and others who are in a position to ameliorate the conditions faced by the victims of the conflict."

Appreciating Sri Lanka’s invitation to visit the North again to observe the rehabilitation process, Schwartz said that he would definitely return shortly.

He said the US government would grant USD eight million in support of return, recovery and the resumption of a normal and productive life for the many tens of thousands who were forced to flee their homes.

"We have already provided over US$ 50 million in humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka this year," he said.

Schwartz said in the long discussions he had with Sri Lankan leaders, he learnt that significant and substantial returns would take place over the next month, in the Mannar, Vavuniya and parts of Kilinochchi, as well as other parts of the country.

As is the case with all such assistance the US provides, we will seek to encourage the involvement of local communities in the design and implementation of projects he said.

Rebecca Cohn, Director, USAID Sri Lanka said in addition to this new US$ 8 million donation, they would also provide nearly USD 13 million in food aid to the World Food Programme this year alone for the benefit of the IDPs.

US government would also provide nets and small boats for fishermen, and tools and seeds for farmers while providing grants for people to start small businesses which will generate income and provide needed services to the community, she said.