Kofi Annan's Special Envoy visits Mullaithivu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2005, 21:19 GMT]
Margareta Wahlstrom, UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Relief Operations, met with the Head of the LTTE's Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan Saturday and expressed condolences and solidarity to the Tamil people affected by the tsunami on behalf of the UN Secretary General, sources said. Urging the UN not to allow political considerations to deter its participation in the rebuilding efforts in the Tamil homeland, Mr. Thamilchelvan told UN Envoy that the Sri Lanka government has "acted in bad faith" by bringing the military into the humanitarian equation.

Ms Wahlstrom expressed regret that Kofi Annan "could not personally visit these areas for reasons beyond UN's control" said LTTE Peace Secretariat website.

"UN with its experience in working jointly with local structures would definitely take the initiative and extend its fullest cooperation in the efforts undertaken by the LTTE" the website of the LTTE Peace Secretariat quoted Mr. Miguel Bermeo, Country Director UNDP, who was associated with the special representative, as saying.

The UN team later visited the Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS) where expatriate Tamil experts are in the process of formulating plans and collating data on need assessment, the TRO Head Quarters in Kilinochchi, and Mullaithivu district.

Colonel Soosai escorted the UN team to the badly affected areas in the Mullaitivu district and showed them the nature of relief operations taking place there. Col.Soosai explained to the team the plans for rebuilding the fishing villages in Mullaithivu. The team later met the representatives of the Mullaitivu Fishermen Union and visited the boat repair facilities where boats are being repaired free of charge.

Mr Bermeo assured the union representatives that UNDP will work to rebuild Mullaitivu fishing industry and would not ask the fisheries union to repay the existing loans.

The UN team visited Mulliyavalai Vidyananda College and Silavatai welfare centers where tsunami affected refugees are being cared for by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO). Ms Wahlstrom expressed her gratitude on behalf of UN to TRO for its relief efforts.