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Around 183,000 Internally Displaced People (IDP) have returned to their native places after the Ceasefire Agreement was signed in February this year, the United Nations Inter-Agency IDP Working Group said.

The majority of these IDPs have relocated in Jaffna, one of the most war-affected areas in the country.

According to the latest estimates, 94,312 IDPs have returned to Jaffna while Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Trincomalee districts have also received a large number IDPs from January to August. Among the returners are 45,812 families. With the growing number of settlers it has become an uphill task for the Government and the United Nations to provide them with a safe and conducive environment.

This includes protection, de-mining, providing water and sanitation, provision of basic equipment for farming and fishing, improving schools and health centres and legal assistance to establish land ownership, a spokesman for the UNHCR said.

"The process of assuring safe and dignified return also requires action against child recruitment, harassment, extortion, intimidation and the full restitution of properties to all returners," he said adding that they have launched a Supplementary Program budget totalling US$ 10 million to meet these needs.

The UNHCR has also decided to strengthen their field staff to assist resettlement and the distribution of relief supplies and non-food items where priority will be given to vulnerable segments like women and children.

Sri Lanka has also been selected by the World Bank Headquarters, the United Nations Development Program and the UNHCR as one of the three countries in which they will work together for long term development in the war-torn areas.

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