India to send 2000 tons of relief aid: ICRC to take charge of distribution
2008-11-06 15:14:09

India will ship 2,000 tons of relief material to Sri Lanka for the people affected by the war to be distributed by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Indo-Asia News Agency said.

It said the Tamil Nadu government will put together individual family packs containing food and non-food items including clothes and hygiene products in a bid to ease hardships to civilians forced to flee their homes due to fighting between the military and the Tamil Tigers.

New Delhi is coordinating with the Tamil Nadu authorities and will send the material to Colombo, where the Indian high commission will receive it. The ICRC will then take charge and do the distribution to those in need of food and shelter.

This will be the biggest Indian humanitarian intervention in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami.

It will also be the most significant relief effort since India undertook a controversial and unilateral sea and air borne operation to deliver food to the civilian population in Jaffna in June 1987.

"Yes, we have been approached by the government of India about (providing) assistance in Sri Lanka, chiefly in Wanni," Francois Stamm, head of the ICRC Regional Delegation here, told IANS.

"To my knowledge, this is the first time India has approached ICRC for such a purpose," Stamm said. "We are very glad." .