UN faces funding shortfall for Sri Lanka humanitarian work

May 25, 2012 (LBO) – United Nation’s effort to raise 147 million dollars to fund humanitarian assistance in the former conflict-hit northern region this year, is facing a severe funding shortfall, official data showed Friday. The UN said 6,063 people continue to live in the Menik Farm displaced centre, three-years after security forces crushed the Tamil Tigers and ended 37-years of ethnic conflict in May 2009.

Some 300,000 people were displaced in the final months of the fighting and many of them have returned to their villages. As of May 18, only 13 percent or 18.7 million dollars have come through, the United Nations office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs said.

The report did not give a reason for the funding gap, but said the monies are used for resettlement, demining, health, food, sanitation, shelter and education activities in the northern region.