De-mining in Vanni delayed by lack of funds

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 October 2010, 06:12 GMT]
International organizations including European countries limiting their funds to the organizations engaged in de-mining in Vanni has resulted in the delay of de-mining projects in the war ravaged Vanni, Jaffna District Humanitarian De-mining Coordination Office authorities said in a press meet held in Jaffna Secretariat Friday to explain the cause of the delay in de-mining activities in Vanni. Meanwhile, most of the landmines in Vanni had been sown by Sri Lanka Government while the majority of them are found to be products of Pakistan and USA, the officials said.

Danish De-mining Organization, Halo Trust and the Humanitarian De-mining Unit of Sri Lanka Army are the main organizations engaged in de-mining projects in the North.

Due to lack of sufficient funds the de-mining organizations are unable to create new or additional teams to de-mine in Vanni, the officials said.

The De-mining Coordination Office extended an appeal to the international organizations and countries to donate enough funds so that the de-mining activities do not grind to a halt.

Resettlement in Vanni is delayed as a consequence of the lack of funds to create new de-mining teams, the officials said.