| Crisis in Sri Lanka |
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I have been absolutely horrified to see the escalation of violence in the North-East of Sri Lanka, and have found the resultant loss of civilian life and deterioration of humanitarian conditions both appalling and deeply distressing. I have recently met with members of the Tooting Tamil community as well as local residents to discuss the current crisis. I have also met with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Bill Rammell MP to discuss what more needs to be done to end the huge suffering. In addition, I have lobbied the Government to increase its aid budget to Sri Lanka to help to ease the situation of civilians. I was therefore very pleased that International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander recently pledged a further £2.5 million in aid to Sri Lanka to alleviate the crisis. This is in addition to the £2.5 million pledged in aid in October last year which was channelled through NGOs (such as the United Nations Agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme) rather than handed over to the Sri Lankan Government. I have sought assurances from the Government that this latest aid will also be channelled through NGOs rather than the Government of Sri Lanka and they have confirmed this is the case. As I say, I am determined to do all I can to put an end to the violence in Sri Lanka, and will do all I can to ensure this is achieved. |
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