Friday, October 19, 2012 - 5.05 GMT

U.S. welcomes IDP resettlement

http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201210/20121019us_welcomes_idp_resettlement.htm

The United States yesterday welcomed the government's work to quickly resettle nearly 280,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) following the three-decade long conflict in May 2009. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo in a statement said the U.S. Government has recently awarded over US$3million to three organizations supporting resettling communities in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts in Sri Lanka's Northern Province. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance has awarded funding to three NGOs -ZOA Refugee Care, Sewalanka, and Practical Action - to provide the basic needs for the resettled IDPs. The support will provide help to nearly 50,000 IDPs with basic services such as adequate shelter, access to potable water and proper sanitation, and food security, the U.S. Embassy said. According to the Embassy, the programs will support the resettled families to start generating needed income, and connect farmers and fishermen with markets. "Through its assistance, the United States is helping resettled people move towards a better future and the U.S. Embassy looks forward to continuing to work with the Government of Sri Lanka provide the services and care Sri Lankans need," the Embassy said.