Sri Lanka: 182,946 IDPs from North already resettled

The total number of IDPs to be resettled up to date is 182,946 and only 61,898 displaced persons remain in the IDP Centers in the north.

Stating this, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe said that at present, 61,898 IDPs are at 6 sites in Vavuniya while 1347 IDPs are at 2 sites in Jaffna.

Another 1604 are at hospitals with their families. Accordingly, a total of 64,849 IDPs are in zones as at March 10.

The Minister further stated that 24,032 are out of camps on free movement while another 4942 have not reported back to the camps on the date indicated by the IDPs. Accordingly, a total of 28,974 are outside the camps as at March 10.

Resettlement is carried out in Kilinochchi and Mulativu districts as well after obtaining the UN certification that demining has been completed. Minister Samarasinghe stated that all resettlements take place once the government receives this UN certificate of mine clearance.

The Minister further said that those with host families too are being resettled instead of limiting to IDPs in camps.

- Asian Tribune -