President and CEO

Samuel A. Worthington

Chair February 11, 2009

Charles MacCormack,
Save the Children

The Honorable Hillary R. Clinton

Vice Chair Secretary of State
Ritu Sharma Fox,
Women Thrive Worldwide U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Treasurer Washington, DC 20520
Amy Coen,
Population Action International
Dear Madam Secretary,

Board of Directors
Kenneth Bacon, Refugees International
David Beckmann, Bread for the World
Carol Bellamy, World Learning
Sekyu Chang,
Korean American Sharing Movement
Julius Coles, Africare
Helene D. Gayle, CARE USA
Anne Lynam Goddard,
Christian Children’s Fund
Lee H. Hamilton,
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Neal Keny-Guyer, Mercy Corps
Elizabeth Lathem, US Committee for UNDP
Jo Luck, Heifer International
John McCullough, Church World Service
Mary Ellen McNish, American Friends service
Committee
Hugh Parmer, American Refugee Committee
Daniel E. Pellegrom, Pathfinder International
Linda Pfeiffer, INMED
Robert Radtke,
Episcopal Relief and Development
Yolonda C. Richardson,
Centre for Development and Population Activities
Carter Roberts, World Wildlife Fund
George Rupp,
International Rescue Committee
Zainab Salbi,
Women for Women International
Ron Sconyers, Physicians for Peace
Kathy Spahn, Helen Keller International
Richard Stearns, World Vision
Tsehaye Teferra,
Ethiopian Community Development Council
Emily Untermeyer, Amigos de las Americas
Sam Worthington (Ex-Officio)
1400 16th St., NW
Suite 210
Washington, DC 20036
PHONE: (202) 667-8227
FAX: (202) 667-8236
E-MAIL: ia@interaction.org
http://www.interaction.org
On behalf of InterAction members, please accept our congratulations on your
confirmation as our new Secretary of State. The U.S. international NGO
community looks forward to working with the State Department and the new
leadership at USAID on a wide range of issues.
Sadly, my first formal request, on behalf of our members, is to express our grave
concern about the humanitarian crisis in northern Sri Lanka. We appreciate your
joint efforts with Foreign Minister David Miliband and the Tokyo Co-Chairs to
protect civilians trapped in the war zone, and commend the ongoing efforts of
Ambassador Robert Blake. We urge the U.S. government to continue to speak out
strongly on the imperative to protect civilians and to make this issue an immediate
diplomatic priority during your upcoming visit to Japan and with other
governments and the U.N. It is important to impress upon all parties the urgent
need for meaningful momentum towards a lasting solution to the Sri Lankan ethnic
conflict.
We urgently request that the United States Government use its influence to:
1. Press for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire respected by all parties
leading to a comprehensive and permanent cessation of hostilities;
2. Restore unrestricted humanitarian access for staff of international NGOs
and ensure that the assistance is delivered consistent with humanitarian
laws and principles;
3. Press the U.N. to work for a permanent ceasefire and resumption of peace
talks; and
4. Press for the deployment of independent human rights monitors to the
internment camps through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights.
As the International Committee of the Red Cross and other organizations have
noted, the humanitarian situation is critical. As you know, the fighting has
significantly escalated in the past few weeks. Reports indicate that hundreds have
been killed and more than 250,000 civilians are trapped in a 250-square kilometer
area, living in a state of fear and insecurity. Communications and access by road to
the region have been cut, resulting in serious shortages of food, medicine and

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InterAction is a membership association of US private voluntary organizations engaged in international humanitarian efforts including
relief, development, refugee assistance, environment, population, public policy, and global education.
essential supplies. The last functioning hospital closed following heavy artillery attacks, forcing patients and
staff to flee. The Sri Lankan government has severely restricted the operations of U.N. and international aid
organizations. Access to victims in the war zone occurs only every few days.

While the government of Sri Lanka has declared a safe area for civilians within the conflict zone, this
arrangement has been largely disregarded by both parties. Citizens are denied any meaningful refuge. The
government has also promised to allow safe passage to trapped civilians, but only a handful has been able to
escape. Sri Lankan military artillery barrages and aerial strikes, and LTTE restrictions on movement, prevent
people from seeking safety from the fighting. Many families are too frightened to leave the LTTE-held
territory due to the unsafe conditions in the government-controlled area. Civilians who have crossed into the
area are held in open internment camps, afforded no communication with the outside world, and denied
access to aid agencies seeking to assist them.

The crisis in Sri Lanka requires the attention of the U.S. and the international community. If a humanitarian
catastrophe is to be averted, a coordinated diplomatic demarche at the highest levels of the international
community is needed immediately. We recognize that certain countries, particularly India and Japan, have
special influence in Sri Lanka, and would ask that U.S. diplomatic efforts include continued targeted
outreach to those governments.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this humanitarian disaster.

Sincerely,

Samuel A. Worthington
President and CEO

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InterAction is a membership association of US private voluntary organizations engaged in international humanitarian efforts including
relief, development, refugee assistance, environment, population, public policy, and global education.