More help for disabled IDPs

Wheel-chairs, crutches, elbows, tricycles, commode wheel-chairs, plastic chairs, white canes, Braille slates have been distributed among displaced persons with disabilities in welfare camps in Vavuniya under the instructions of Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda.

The Ministry has also trained 10 social officers on the use of the assistive devices in collaboration with the handicap international, consequent to a need assessment carried out by social workers in IDP camps. A total of 210 artificial limbs have been fixed to those who had lost limbs.

A program is in progress to provide more prostheses with the Jaipur Foot Program in India. Details of the persons with disabilities who wish to settle down with their relatives are being taken.

UNICEF will provide financial support for training volunteers from the Community Based Rehabilitation program (CBR) for rehabilitation of the displaced with disabilities in IDP camps. Thirty one volunteers from zone 4 in Vavuniya were trained by a group of resource personnel including the Co-coordinating Officer of the CBR. Another group of volunteers from zone 2 of the welfare camps were trained from September 2 to 3.

There are 19,226 elders in welfare camps of which 6003 were sent to live with relatives and 132 to Paddithoddam Elder’s Home. Another 550 were recommended to the Major General in Charge of the Camp to be transferred to Thirukthiswaran and Samanalakulam Elder’s Homes.

Government Agents of Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mannar have also taken action to transfer 742 elders to homes of relatives.