second estimate the administration" on the loveliness of aid distribution, and won't comment on the government ordering the International Committee of the Red Cross out of Northern Sri Lanka, or imposing a burdensome registration process on other NGOs in the country.
The questions OCHA provided answers to now were a subset of the Sri Lanka questions Inner City Press initially asked the Function of the Voice for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, OSSG.
Days before Ban Spokesman Martin Nesirky said he wouldn't do any more questions from Inner City Press unless it acted "appropriately," apparently meaning not asking about compliance with UN rules, he said "ask OCHA." So on January 17, Inner City Press emailed the questions to OCHA's spokespeople.
Hearing nothing back from OCHA or Nesirky and his Deputy Farhan Haq to whom Inner City Press reverted with the questions, on January 26 Inner City Press asked OCHA deputy Catherine Bragg and them her spokespeople. OCHA said it had given answers to the OSSG. But, perhaps in execution of Nesirky's threat, the OCHA answers were never disposed to Inner City Press.
Finally OCHA re-sent its capitalized answers directly to Inner City Press:
What does [the UN] say to the protests in east Batticaloa about allegedly inequitable distribution of aid?
WE CANNOT SECOND Guess THE AID PROVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY AS IT IS Pulling Together A Comprehensive POST DISASTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT. IN Major DISASTERS, IT IS NOT ABNORMAL FOR SOME OF THOSE Affected TO WISH AID PROVISION WOULD Come IN A Different Style THAN IT HAS DONE.
Also, as previously asked- Does the UN have any commentary on Sri Lanka's government ordering the International Committee of the Red Cross out of Northern Sri Lanka?http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=91160
WE See THAT ICRC IS CURRENTLY DISCUSSING THE Future OF ITS Operations IN SRI LANKA WITH THE AUTHORITIES, AND Make NO Further Notice AT THIS TIME. PLEASE Refer TO ICRC FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS.
Or, as previously requested, on the new rules requiring NGOs and INGOs tonregister with the Department of Defense, etc
A Government HAS A Right TO Know WHICH NGOS ARE Operating Within A COUNTRY, AND TO Require REGISTRATION. OUR Care HAS Ever BEEN THE Power TO ACCESS POPULATIONS IN Want OF HUMANITARIAN AID.
When did Ms. Bragg apply for a visa to Sri Lanka, when was it granted and are there any conditions on the visa, regarding where to travel, whom to talk with, etc?
I AM NOT Mindful OF ANY DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING THIS VISA NOR OR ANY TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON IT.
Ban's Spokesperson's Office, despite Ban's December 17 and January 14 statements that Ban's Panel on Accountability in Sri Lanka could go to the area due to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's "flexibility," has been unwilling to do specific questions about visas for the Board and weather the administration would impose. Now they have been asked other questions. Watch this site.
