UN fully prepared to assist resettlement - UN Envoy

Chaminda PERERA

UN Secretary General's Special rapporteur and UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe yesterday visited the welfare camps in Vavuniya where civilians displaced by the LTTE atrocities have been provided with temporary accommodation. He inspected the resettlement and rehabilitation process in Mannar and demining activities in the Northern region.

Addressing the media after a meeting with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, the UN Under Secretary General stressed that the UN is fully prepared to assist the speedy resettlement of the people in the North who were displaced by terrorist atrocities.

He said he was able to discuss the situation with the military officials and the Government officials during his tour to Vavuniya.

"I met the displaced civilians who are living in welfare camps and the UN keep on assisting them, he said.

Pascoe stressed the need to resettle them in their original places as soon as possible. "The UN do recognize the security concerns but what is more important to get these displaced civilians out of the camps," he said.

He said he is scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Opposition, Tamil politicians and the members of the Tamil community today and discuss the matters including the issue of displaced civilians before final assessment is made. Foreign Minister Bogollagama said the Government has resettled a substantial number of displaced civilians in their original homes. "We have provided infrastructure facilities to them," he said.

"We have made a remarkable progress in resettling these civilians in their original homes under the Government's 180 day program.