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UNP
wants accountability for needs assessment In a resolution adopted on January 10 the UNP said: "a more focussed and coordinated short and medium term effort is required now " and that it is necessary to mobilise the whole society within our democratic system for that purpose. The UNP said it is essential to ensure transparency and accountability in the preparation of needs assessments, sharing of resources and utilisation of funds by the Government and other organisations as both local and foreign private assistance have been received as well as assistance from foreign governments, international organisations with more assistance being pledged. The Party also suggests that the needs assessment of human tragedy must focus primarily on the needs of the people who have been affected by the disaster and have the primary objective to restore their normal lives as soon as possible. To ensure the above issues are implemented well, the Working Committee of the UNP has proposed the establishment of a mechanism which would include members of the government, political parties, representatives of the ethnic communities, international organisations, religious leaders, voluntary organisations, the private sector and trade unions which would review and integrate the needs assessment of the loss of livelihoods of all those directly and indirectly affected by the disaster; housing, the damage caused to public infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, fisheries harbours, schools, power etc; the loss to business enterprises (small, medium and large), fishing boats, tourist hotels, guest houses, transport etc. Such a mechanism would also formulate a programme and plan of action to meet the mentioned needs in the shortest possible time. The aim is to stabilise the economy for the next 12 months, establish a special fund with broad based representation of Government, the Opposition, the donor community and civil society to support people who have lost their family members, houses, livelihood and business enterprises, including fishing boats, guest houses etc. by putting resources into the hands of the affected people; to provide matching grants to welfare organisations engaged in helping affected people; to assist business enterprises which have been affected and to increase the capacity of trauma counselling in local areas. The UNP suggests that a major portion of donor assistance should be utilised for these purposes. It also proposes that establishment of Community Action Committees at the Local Authority level as the major project implementing mechanism and as the focal point for cooperation and unity. The UNP also wants the re-settlement of affected people, the provision of financial assistance to rebuild their houses, commencement of the fishing industry and assistance to fishermen for that purpose and the re commencement of tourism all within six months by July 31, 2005 and re commencement of big and small business ventures within a period of one year with a scheme of assistance to all affected small and medium enterprises. |
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