Netherlands calls for 'conflict sensitivity assurance' in allocation of rebuilding aid

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2005, 14:42 GMT]
Expressing its belief that the government of Sri Lanka would effectively and efficiently channel the international support to all Sri Lankan citizens in need, irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations, the government of Netherlands on Friday called for conflict sensitivity assurance in disbursing the international post-tsunami assistance for relief and reconstruction effort.

"The Netherlands government trusts the government of Sri Lanka to effectively and efficiently channel the international support to all Sri Lankan citizens in need, irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations. The Netherlands government appeals to the national capacity to assure conflict sensitivity, transparency and accountability in the allocation of the reconstruction funds," a press released issued by the Royal Netherlands Embassy at the completion of one-day official visit by its Foreign Minister, Bernard Bot on Friday.

Arriving in Colombo on Tuesday the Netherlands Foreign Minister had meet President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lakshman Kadirgamar, deputy leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), Karu Jayasuriya and parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance, R.Sambanthan.

Minister Bot has said that any reconstruction effort should build on this local capacity in taking decisions at the lowest appropriate levels.

According to the press release, the Netherlands Foreign Minister while expressing his compassion on the devastation and the loss of human lives in Sri Lanka, he has also expressed the gratitude of his government to those who assisted to help Dutch en EU citizens aftermath of the tsunami disaster.

"The minister discussed Dutch support for post Tsunami reconstruction. Private fund raising activities in the Netherlands collected more than EUR 160 million and this could be seen as an expression of the world-wide solidarity with the Tsunami affected countries. The Netherlands Government immediately after the disaster made available for emergency relief EUR 7 million through UN channels and EUR 1 million to the Red Cross," the release said.

"The Netherlands will also contribute to reconstruction for which it has reserved EUR 200 million for Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Exact allocations of these amounts will be based on needs assessment and contributions of other donors. Part of the allocation will be used for the re-floating of the stranded dredger 'Diya Kowula' in the Galle harbour," the statement further said.