Red Cross ordered by Sri Lanka to scale down relief operations

by Suranee | July 9, 2009 at 12:28 am

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The Red Cross says it has been ordered to scale down relief operations in Sri lanka.

COLOMBO (AFP) — The International Committee of the Red Cross said it had been ordered by Sri Lanka to scale down relief operations in the island where it has been helping civilian war victims.

The Red Cross stated that due to the order, they are now withdrawing expatriate staff from the battle-scarred eastern province.

As a result, the ICRC said it was withdrawing expatriate staff from the battle-scarred eastern province which was the focus of the final government offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels that ended in outright victory in May.

Meanwhile, the Sri lankan government is claimed to have imposed taxes on aid organizations.

SRI Lanka's government is trying to syphon off millions of dollars of humanitarian aid by imposing a 0.9 per cent tax on all funding for aid groups, including the charities Oxfam and Save the Children Fund.

Some say the tax contravenes the international disaster response guidelines drawn up by the Red Cross in 2007.

Some say the tax contravenes the international disaster response guidelines drawn up by the Red Cross in 2007 with the participation of 140 countries, including Sri Lanka.

"This is money on which people have already paid tax in their own countries and which is supposed to be helping people in need," said one aid worker.

"This is a desperate money-making measure by the government."