Another UN Food Convoy On Its Way To Sri Lanka

Another UN Food Convoy On Its Way To Violence-Stricken Northern Sri Lanka

New York, Nov 3 2008 10:10AM

The United Nations said today it has dispatched another major food convoy into the Vanni region of northern Sri Lanka, as part of the continuing humanitarian aid effort to assist some 230,000 people uprooted by recent clashes.

The World Food Programme (WFP) convoy consists of 29 trucks carrying 438 metric tons of food for civilians displaced behind the lines of confrontation in the districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

It is the fourth UN convoy to head to the region since the world body was forced to temporarily withdraw from Vanni in mid-September due to fighting between Government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“The convoy will deliver food to three locations before returning to Government-controlled territory tomorrow,” according to a news release issued by the Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka.

Since the beginning of October, the UN has delivered 2,300 metric tons of food to Vanni.

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