Two more IDP Sahana villages to be set up

Harshini PERERA

Two more IDP Sahana villages will be set up by the end of May for those entering the cleared areas, said Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services minister, Rishad Bathiudeen. The two IDP Sahana villages namely Anandakumaraswami and Ramanathan will add to the facilities presently provided by the other two Sahana villages, Arunachalam and Kadiragamar.

Therefore, it could pave the way for more IDPs numbering upto 100 000 to come from the uncleared areas.

"There are 68,273 IDPs at present who had secured their lives in the cleared areas while 57,938 people belonging to 19,367 families reside in the Vavuniya district", the Minister said.

There are 15 temporary relief centers around Vavuniya which function in public places such as schools, university premises and other public properties. The Minister pointed out the disadvantage of using such places for resettlement. Therefore, the Sahana villages were constructed instead.

Thereby, the Tamil Maha Vidyalaya and Gamini Maha Vidyalaya in Vavuniya will serve as educational institutes.

The IDP camps have already been given every necessary facility including telephones with IDD facility and the facility to make calls to family members.

They have also been provided the opportunity to reunite with relatives and family members. Bathiudeen further said that they have taken immediate measures to supply IDPs with Identity Cards by next month. According to him, there are three Task Forces in process to supply facilities to IDPs.

They are the food committee, water, sanitation and education and shelter which are supervised by the Government Agent for Vavuniya, P. M.S. Charles under relevant Ministry. Humanitarian agents such as NGOs and INGOs are also helping to improve the lives of IDPs.