Brussels, 17/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 16 December, the European Commission decided to grant an additional envelope of 5 million euros to provide humanitarian aid to displaced persons, repatriated persons and host families in Sri Lanka. The current process of return for the populations has led to urgent humanitarian needs, which include, among other things, protection measures, temporary shelter, health services (mobile dispensaries and structures specifically designed for victims of the conflict) and mine clearance in heavily mined areas. At the same time, the Commission has provided additional humanitarian aid of one million euros for Sri Lankan refugees living in camps at Tamil Nadu, India. All of the aid has been channelled by the Commission's humanitarian aid service (ECHO). The humanitarian projects funded by the Commission have been implemented by non-governmental aid organisations, specialist agencies of the United Nations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. ECHO's regional bureau, which is situated in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, is closely following developments in the humanitarian situation and checking the use of the Commission's emergency funding. Since 2007, and adding the envelope announced on Wednesday, the Commission has granted a total in excess of 48 million euros in aid to victims of humanitarian crises in Sri Lanka. (O.L./trans.fl)