Resettlement of remaining 10% IDPs to end soon

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Resettlement of remaining 10% IDPs to end soon

Sri Lankan government has completed the resettlement of over 235000 IDPs in the north and eastern provinces. During the final stage of the war with LTTE over 260,000 people had fled the LTTE and came to no fire zones created by the government at that time. Mr. Chandra Fernando, a presidential advisor on north and east development has said that all efforts would be made to complete the resettlement of remaining 10 percent of IDPs before end of September.
"We hope to be able to complete the resettlement before end of September. There are only 28,000 people left to be resettled in Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi (the former rebel strongholds in the north)," Fernando said.
He said the resettlement in Mannar and Vavuniya districts in the north have been 95 percent completed. Sri Lanka has made a significant progress in resettling the IDPs within the time frame of one year when compared with most other conflict affected countries where large numbers of people had been displaced
Meanwhile Mr. Neil Buhne, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator at the World Humanitarian Day observance held yesterday (19/08) at the UN Compound, Colombo said over the last year and half, through a broad partnership in support of Sri Lankan national efforts, hundreds of thousands of people who had to flee from fighting to safety, were given humanitarian assistance. Funding for this work came from the Government, people throughout Sri Lanka, from governments and people throughout the whole world. There were many challenges, many difficult times, times when people become frustrated. Ultimately through hard work, through good cooperation, through applying humanitarian principles and through the efforts of the effected people themselves - the corner was turned and people regained the capacity to start returning and rebuilding their lives.
They and everyone else in country have the chance to use the opportunities from peace . We look forward to supporting you now to rebuild and recover, and lay a firm foundation for safe lives free from need for all Sri Lankans.
A few examples of what was done
In the first half of this year, food was provided to a half million people.
130,000 students in the north received mid-morning school meals.
40,000 families who returned received a shelter grant of Rupees 25,000 per family.
92,800 families received non-food item packages.
During 2009 and this year, almost 300,000 displaced people got access to safe water, proper sanitation and more... resulting in reduced outbreaks of waterborne and sanitation related diseases
From January to May humanitarian operators from both international NGOs and the Government, cleared 123 km sq of land.
In return areas, 2,915 dug wells were cleaned and 515 upgraded
Cash for work schemes have created 2,751 work days
19,000 household were provided with agriculture, fishery and livestock supplies
75,000 acres of abandoned paddy land and 17,000 acres of abandoned land is being targeted for cultivation.
Disease outbreaks in Menik farm were controlled
From figures of up to 30%, the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition in children under-five in IDP sites was reduced to 2% and remained stable.
57,673 students are registered in newly opened schools
3,219 houses for returning families were constructed/repaired.
Courtesy : Government Information Department