UN chief visits Sri Lanka’s north

The newly-appointed head of the United Nations in Sri Lanka is making his first visit to the north of the country.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Subinay Nandy, arrived in Vavuniya on Monday on a two-day mission.  

He is visiting areas affected by the conflict, Menik Farm IDP camp and seeing first-hand overall resettlement efforts including projects of United Nations humanitarian and development agencies.

Nandy is also meeting government officials and the UN team.  “My main aim is to hear what the people affected by the conflict have to say about their lives and listen to their hopes and concerns. From what I have seen so far, there are advances but still there are considerable challenges in the north facing communities and families who are trying to rebuild and sustain decent lives,” Nandy said. Nandy also said that reconciliation was key to underpinning a durable peace and a secure foundation for people to re-establish their lives.

Nandy said he would feed his impressions into the overall United Nations response which is supporting the Government’s programmes in the north.

 “The United Nations works with the government, and local government officials to improve lives in the north in a meaningful, sustained manner,” Nandy said.

On Monday, Nandy visited a family tracing project, and then spent time in Menik Farm talking with displaced people and meeting volunteers who worked in the camps.

On Tuesday he met displaced people who are stranded and unable to return to their land, visited agricultural and livelihood projects, a demining site, a food distribution outlet as well as irrigation and permanent housing projects.