Vavuniya IDPs drop to 17, 641

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The total number of IDPs in the Vavuniya relief villages has dropped to 17, 641 as of yesterday (Nov. 01), due to the Government's speedy resettlement programme.
Including the 1158 IDPs remaining in Jaffna, the total number of IDPs remaining is 18, 380, the Ministry of Resettlement said.
According to the Ministry figures, only 4, 011 IDPs remain in Kadirakamar relief center while 5612 IDPs remain in Anandakumaraswami Zone 1. Three batches of IDPs; 2327, 2569 and 2703 are remaining in Ramanadan, Arunachalam and Zone 4 respectively in the Menik Farm relief village. Out of these 11, 780 IDPs are on free movement outside camps.
The government has so far resettled 212, 094 IDPs belonging to 65, 271 families in their places of origin as of yesterday.
In addition, the government released 27, 652 IDPs on grounds of medical, humanitarian, elderly (Over 60), court orders, foreign passport holders, university students, child home/orphanage, religious and pregnant women. Including this number, the total number released and resettled by the government is 239, 746.
Secretary to the Ministry of Resettlement, Mr. M. B. Dissanayake said that those who have now been resettled are provided with necessary facilities for schooling, healthcare, transport etc.
He added that a majority of the remaining IDPs are originally from Mullativu and Pudukudirippu DS Divisions and their resettlement has been delayed due to mines in those areas. The Secretary said that they will be resettled within 72 hours once de-mining has been completed. He added that this will be completed within two to three months thus completing the resettlement process.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), since January 2009, 396 sqkm have been cleared in the North, while an estimated 552 sqkm in all five northern districts are still littered with mines.
The Mine Action Group (MAG) is de-mining in the three districts of Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu, part of the former war-zone, reported IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Philippa Copland, community liaison officer for MAG said, effective de-mining programmes had helped to keep the number of injuries low.
"It is a very effective de-mining programme that is in place," Copland said. "Before returns take place, the areas are surveyed and de-mined. No returns will take place unless the de-mining units have given the all-clear."
Following is an illustration of the remaining IDPs from August 2009 to November 01, 2010:
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Courtesy : President's Media Unit