UN backed action plan for IDP welfare

Rasika SOMARATHNA

COLOMBO: A comprehensive national policy and action plan to address the question of the long term problem of the internal displaced on a much broader scale is on the cards as a joint international conference on Sri Lanka’s long term IDPs gets under way in Colombo today.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights in association with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Sri Lanka, has organised this National consultation for a durable solution for the long term IDP problem, aimed at developing a national policy and action plan.

The two and half day deliberations would continue till Thursday with Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe presiding.

According to a Ministry release emphasis would be laid on protracted displacement with issues pertaining to IDPs who were displaced before 2006, being the primary focus.

Sri Lanka’s experience in developing, adopting and implementing

frameworks for durable solutions for IDPs, and National efforts in this connection since 1987 are to be assessed and a comparative review of international best practice in this connection is to be conducted in view of enhancing and building upon existing tools and methodologies.

The outcome is expected to act as a feeder for ongoing national initiatives to develop a comprehensive action plan within the framework for durable solutions. It is also expected to shed light between the immediate provision of humanitarian assistance and the guarantee of safety and security of IDPs in line with international standards.

These are to include immediate concerns and the transition from a humanitarian situation to longer term considerations of development, including sustainable livelihoods, infrastructure and socio-economic integration.

Ministry sources said that while marked progress has been achieved in resettling persons in the East with 80-90 per cent being successfully resettled, greater attention had been diverted to the protracted case load.

A recent survey by the authorities is set to provide background information with special emphasis being laid on matters pertaining to land and property rights, the challenges to the achievement of durable solutions, and contribution of donors.

Prof. Walter Kalin - Representative of the UN Secretary General on the human rights of IDPs is to be the key note speaker in the event.

In addition senior Government Representatives including Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Rishard Bathiudeen, Senior Advisor to President Basil Rajapaksa MP and other relevant authorities along with UN agency members, NGO and INGO groups are set to participate.