Humanitarian relief for IDPs:

Donors grant US $196m

Donors have provided nearly US$ 196 million to assist in humanitarian efforts for IDPs who fled areas in the recent battles in the North, a Joint Media Release by the Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry and the United Nations Resident/ Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka said.

This includes over US $ 155 million to projects detailed in the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP), with the remainder earmarked for humanitarian assistance outside of the CHAP.

This assistance complements the substantial expenditures provided by the Government for land clearing, drainage, electricity, water supply in the IDP sites in Vavuniya, Jaffna and Trincomalee. Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said: “The Government is currently stepping up efforts to return as many of the 250,000 IDPs still in camps back to their homes or in the alternative accommodation to alleviate congestion ahead of the approaching monsoon rains.”

“In support of this process, donors have been generous in providing funds for de-mining as well as return packages comprising shelter, food and non-food items to assist families in re-establishing their households during the initial months of return,” he said.

Work on identifying ongoing needs in support of return and relief efforts for 2010 recently began.

“We welcome the Government’s pledge to return the bulk of IDPs to their homes by January 2010, but this does not mean that humanitarian assistance needs will end and continued support will be needed to ensure that all families can go back and restart their lives.

Also, while we expect the numbers to reduce substantially, we recognize that some families will need to remain in camps or with host families during the first months of 2010” the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Neil Buhne said.

Through the CHAP process, the UN and its partners will consult with key ministries to ensure support is in line with Government plans. The process will identify priorities and urgent needs as well as resource requirements to address ongoing humanitarian needs, the joint press release said.