Sri Lanka will receive full support from the United Nations (UN) for recovery and reconstruction following the recent extreme weather disaster, the UN Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche said on Monday.
He made the pledge during a meeting with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath at the ministry.
Marc-André Franche said the UN has decided to provide an initial US$ 4.5 million under its Emergency Response Fund to support immediate relief for affected communities. The amount was symbolically handed over to Minister Herath during the meeting.
According to the UN, the financial and technical assistance will focus on food security, housing, drinking water, education, health, agriculture and fisheries.
Marc-André Franche further noted that a five-member team from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has already arrived in Sri Lanka to conduct a detailed assessment of needs. The UN expects to work closely with Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre for all related coordination.
Minister Herath pointed out that the disaster has severely affected the country’s population, economy, agricultural sector and essential infrastructure, and emphasized the importance of international cooperation for national recovery efforts.
The Resident Representative said the UN will continue working with its offices in New York and Geneva to facilitate support from international partners contributing to Sri Lanka’s rebuilding programme.
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