Over 325,800 IDPs home

*Agencies depart with resettlement completion

*Mine clearance paves way for resettlement

A total of 325,820 persons (102,081 families) have been resettled in the Northern Province since August 2009 upto December 2, 2010, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Government authorities organized several initiatives to share information with the IDPs as a means of managing expectations about the return process in October.

This included a ‘come-and-tell’ visit to Menik Farm by the Mullaitivu authorities on October 25 to explain the delay in returns to Puthukudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu DS Divisions stemming from widespread mine and UXO contamination.

IDPs from the Mullikkulam region of Madhu DS Division in the Mannar District carried out a ‘go-and-see’ visit to see the conditions in their home areas.

The southern section of Mullikkulam village was released for resettlement during October, while demining continues in the northern area.

The OCHA report also stated that an increasing number of agencies depart from Mannar District, because of perceptions that the need for their work has diminished with IDP returns complete.

Authorities and partners remaining in the area continue, however, to record significant continuing needs in return communities, including shelter, water, food, livelihood and other assistance.

Long-term IDPs seeking to return from Puttalam District and refugees returning from India will also require some support, the report said.

ICRC closed its Mannar office on November 30, with plans to shut down the Vavuniya and Jaffna offices as well. On November 5, 158 alleged former combatants from Vavuniya District rehabilitation centres were handed over to their families.

The Cabinet, on advice by the Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister, approved a reintegration plan for alleged former combatants on November 4, upon release from the ‘protective accommodation and rehabilitation centres in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, OCHA said.

In October, 9,816 persons (3,110 families) returned to their areas of origin (Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Mannar districts), mostly IDPs from host families.

This group included displaced in Puttalam District returning to Mannar District, IDPs in Jaffna camps heading to Maruthankerny Divisional Secretariat and returnees to newly accessible Grama Niladari Divisions in Puthukudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu District).Between November 1 and December 2, 3,312 persons (961 families) returned to Mullaitivu and Mannar districts. Most originated from Menik Farm. In addition, some 700 persons (170 families) returned spontaneously to Mullaitivu District. Authorities confirmed that the return process from Menik Farm to Mannar was concluded by November 19.

The OCHA report also stated that as at December 2, some 21,000 IDPs were still in Menik Farm. Zones 4 and 2 of the camps were closed on November 9 and November 24, and the 4,600 IDPs living in these areas transferred to Zones 0 and 1, where shelters are in better condition.

The consolidation exercise took place in view of the Northeast monsoon season and to maximize the limited resources available.

The UN called upon the government to safeguard the voluntary character of IDP relocations and provide adequate facilities during the process, especially for the most vulnerable.

The population shifted from Zones 4 and 2 accepted the move, while restating their preference to return soonest to their areas of origin.

Most of the remaining IDPs originate from the heavily mine-contaminated areas in Puthukudiyiruppu DS and Maritimepattu DS (Mullaitivu District), where mine action operations are still ongoing.

With regard to vocational training, OCHA reported that this is currently being provided across the Northern Province with the support of the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and partners, including ILO, WUSC, GTZ, UNICEF and FORUT.

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