Govt Requests Aid Workers To Leave Wanni-AP
September 9, 2008 at 10:42 am · Updates
Government has requested that all aid workers in Vanni leave the region as their safety cannot be assured by the Government, the Defence Secretary told the AP news agency.
The Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the government took the decision for their own protection.
“We can’t assure the security of these people. We are taking precautions,” he was quoted as saying.
Later the UN said in a statement it acknowledged the announcement by the Government and “their request that UN and NGO staff should relocate to government-controlled territory.”
“The UN is now evaluating its operations in the area with a view to relocating humanitarian
staff.
A precise timetable for the complete withdrawal of all staff is yet to be determined, but
relocations will begin this week,” the UN said.
(Govt requests all aid workers in Wanni to leave region as safety cannot be assured as a precautionary measure-Defence Secretary-AP report-JNW
To read the UN statement made after the request click here)