Countering terrorism and healing wounds:

Resettling and improving health of IDPs

Statement by Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe MP, at the 60th Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday. The first part appeared yesterday

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe

While de-mining in three divisions in Batticaloa and one division in Trincomalee has been completed, clearance activities are ongoing in another two divisions each in Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Trincomalee Districts. As at the end of August, a total of 445,370,401 square meters have been cleared of mines and UXOs. US$ 64 million has been allocated for the Sri Lankan Mine Action Program through the respective de-mining agencies. Of the area cleared,335,927,614 square meters have been cleared by the Army at the cost of only US$10 million. The rest of the area has been cleared by other de-mining agencies.

Apart from de-mining, resettlement can only be sustainable if livelihoods and other early recovery measures are put in place. The smooth transition from early recovery to medium and longer-term economic development is also being planned for.

A development strategy

This long-term development strategy is being developed and implemented under a program known as the “Northern Spring” which will usher in a period of renewal for the people of the North.

Let me briefly outline the conditions in the welfare centres and relief villages - especially in light of the recent measures we have taken to improve services and to minimize the potential hazard of inundation due to the impending rainy season. The Disaster Management Centre, which functions under the purview of the Ministry, has led coordination efforts to construct and de-silt stormwater and other surface drains.

Many international and national stakeholders have been coopted into this effort. As at September 21, the drainage work is nearing completion in most of the zones. Evaluation of the machinery and manpower needed for maintenance of the drainage system during the next three months and the conduct of awareness raising among IDPs on drainage and safety is our next priority. In Zone 00 - De-silting of side drains and surface drains within blocks are being completed. Regional authorities are being tasked with maintenance of drainage systems. Zone 01 shows a completion rate of 95 percent with de-silting of side drains and drainage maintenance to be done by regional authorities. Drainage in Zone 02 is 100 percent completed and Zones 03, 04 and 05 show progress of 80 percent, 75 percent and 80 percent, respectively. The drainage plan is finalized in respect of Zone 06A and 06B and work has just started. Work has just commenced in Zone 07 and 08 and also in Weerapuram.

The areas known as Dharmapuram and Sumathipuram shows approximately 50 percent work done. Plans are being discussed to recruit IDPs to assist in the construction of surface drains. UNDP and UNOCHA in particular have supported our efforts in this regard.

Health is another key focus area. This priority sector has been serviced by a special unit - the Disaster Preparedness and Response Division (DPRD) of the Health Ministry since March 2009.

A total of 81 doctors are working in camps in Vavuniya and 18 doctors are working in the Cheddikulam hospital close to the main relief village site known as Menik Farm. The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has ensured that, permanent appointments have been made for around 100 doctors to serve in camps and 28 doctors to serve at the Cheddikulam hospital.

A health camp which included psychosocial services was facilitated by the Air Force in Zones 02 and 03. A new psychosocial Centre has been opened in Zone 04. Mobile clinic facilities are operational in the newly opened Zone 06. Seven health facilities in Kilinochchi, three in Mannar and two in Vavuniya are to be completed by mid-October 2009. 10 days ago, the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry in partnership with UNFPA and the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka opened several family health clinics in Menik Farm that will provide antenatal and postnatal exams, voluntary family planning, emergency deliveries by skilled birth attendants and psychosocial counselling, among other services.

The family health clinics will play a critical role in safeguarding the health of pregnant women in the camps. The Ministry reports that mortality rates have been gradually brought down.

Mortality rates at the welfare villages are estimated at an average of two to three percent which is compatible with mortality rates in any other part of the country and infectious diseases including diarrhoea, dysentery, chickenpox, measles, typhoid and hepatitis B which had increased during the rains experienced some weeks after the mass IDP influx have been brought under control with the prompt healthcare, water and sanitation facilities provided by the Ministry in cooperation with national and international partners.

Education is another priority for Sri Lankans, whether they are displaced or not. In recognition of the importance placed on education, the Examinations Department established 10 special examination centres in Vavuniya for 1,236 displaced candidates to enable them to sit the G.C.E Advanced Level examination which enables them to qualify for entry to University. It is significant that 166 ex-child combatants also sat for the examination held last month.

Education

Attention has been directed to resettling IDPs . Picture by Kavindra Perera

Temporary learning spaces have been demarcated in the IDP sites and educational services are being provided with the complementary assistance of UNICEF and others.

UNHCR has been providing excellent support to the Government as head of the shelter and protection clusters and as a partner of key Government focal points including my Ministry. We have sought to establish a closer dialogue on protection issues and the provision of information to IDPs on the services available to them.

My Ministry has worked with UNHCR to develop a structured program of Confidence Building and Stabilization Measures (CBSM). The important role CBSM has played in the return process in the East has been widely acknowledged through identifying ways and means to address concerns of returning communities and contributing to the sustainability of return.

I wish to emphasize the significant roles the Civil Military Liaison arrangements and the District Level Steering Committees have played in providing a forum for returnees to raise their concerns with local authorities and identify solutions.

It is our expectation that CBSM will play a similarly important role in the resettlement process in the North. Compensation and restitution are also key issues in the context of IDPs and also forms a component of CBSM.

UNHCR has also helped the Government to focus attention on a longstanding issue of protracted IDPs. Professor Kalin gave of his expertise in successfully conducting a National Consultation on protracted cases of displacement last year.

These IDPs, including Muslims who were expelled from the Northern Province by the LTTE 20 years ago, pose a challenge due to the complexity of their situation having been in a situation of displacement, in some cases for 15 to 20 years.

We will take a fresh look at these persons and seek to bring them within the Government’s program of resettlement, reconciliation, reconstruction and reintegration.

All our efforts will be put at risk, if we do not look to a process of national healing and reconciliation and political accommodation of all Sri Lankans within a unified democratic framework. A multi-party Committee on Development and Reconciliation has been convened by President Rajapaksa to address these issues.

Challenges

The forum reflects the Government’s commitment to a pluralistic and inclusive approach in addressing post-conflict challenges.

With the gradual restoration of democracy and the resuscitation of institutions of representative democracy as we have seen in the East and now in the North, our deliberations will set in motion a home-grown process aimed at ensuring long-term stability.

Internal conflict, such as that experienced by Sri Lanka for nearly three decades, has an inevitable corrosive effect on the institutions and mechanisms that ensure peace, order and good governance.

New Sri Lanka

We have to rebuild our institutional foundations to foster and preserve the new multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious Sri Lanka that we wish to create. Our vision is the creation of a new Sri Lankan identity which acknowledges and cherishes the wonderful diversity that characterizes our society.

To enable this, the promotion and protection of human rights - economic, social and cultural as well as civil and political rights and the right to development - is of prime importance. While our immediate focus is the care and protection of those immediately affected by the conflict - IDPs, the war wounded and the families of casualties, we are working towards the achievement of this long-term goal of creating a new nation in which all persons can live free, equal and with realistic hope for a better tomorrow. I am certain that all our friends and partners will join us and support us in this endeavour.