Reception hall for each IDP camp

Chaminda Perera

Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe yesterday said a reception hall where IDPs in welfare camps can meet their friends and relations would be set up in each camp by April 11.

Addressing the weekly press briefing at the Presidential Secretariat, the Minister said the Government has appointed 116 IDPs as volunteers who will help the humanitarian assistance drive launched by the Vavuniya Government Agent jointly with the UN agencies.

Minister Samarasinghe said another group of patients and bystanders will be evacuated by the ICRC by ship which will leave for uncleared area tomorrow.

He said a total of 64,147 civilians arrived in the cleared area by yesterday. Over 2,000 people fled the uncleared area since last Thursday.

Minister Samarasinghe said the Government has achieved a tremendous progress in relation to the release of elders and children to the care of their family members. “We have assigned over 1,360 elders and the children to the care of their close relatives after their relationship was established by the authorities.

Only 140 elders and children were referred to the Elders’ Homes and Children’s Homes set up in religious places. The Minister said the ICRC has evacuated over 3,488 patients and 4,078 bystanders.

”The Government has made all arrangements to ensure that people are provided with all basic amenities in the camp.