Global praise for IDP resettlement

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The speedy resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their original homes has been acknowledged by the international community as a voluntary process undertaken according to international standards, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

The Ministry said Government efforts in this regard had come in for praise by the diplomatic community including the UN High Commission for Refugees and the World Food Programme.

In the Eastern Province alone, over 108,000 IDPs have already returned to their homes since March 2007, and it is estimated that only 38,178 persons are still living in welfare centres or temporary accommodation.

According to sources, they are being held back due to the ongoing process of clearing landmines, expected to be finished in the coming weeks.

Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella commenting on this recently, said the Security Forces were doing its utmost to protect and minimise civilian casualties in their battle against terrorism.

He stated that the offensive to liberate over 40,000 civilians in Vakarai who were used as a human shield by the LTTE was done with zero casualties. This amply demonstrated the discipline of the Security Forces.

Updated figures of IDPs in Sri Lanka as of December 31, 2007, has been established to be 187,850. Of this number, 31,843 are still in welfare centres or temporary accommodations, while 156,007 have sought temporary shelter elsewhere mostly with friends and relatives.

However an independent verification on the numbers given in areas such as Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and the southern part of Jaffna is not possible, according to sources.

Kilinochchi has topped the list with 48,547 persons with only 3,737 housed in welfare centres. In Mullaitivu, there are 32,096 with 923 in welfare centres and in Jaffna the figure is 31,037 with only 857 housed in temporary camps.

The authorities are committed to settling back all IDPs in their original homes. The process to this effect is being carried out in an efficient and organised manner to minimise difficulties for an already overburdened IDP population.