Colombo: India on Monday underlined its
commitments to the early resettlement of the displaced Tamils,
as it handed over fresh consignment of relief materials for
the civilians displaced during the ethnic conflict in Sri
Lanka.
India provided over 6 lakh packages of relief material
valued at USD 3 million for the Tamil IDPs in Northern Sri
Lanka. The supplies, which arrived arrived in Colombo on
August 8, consisted of grocery items, utensils, plastic mats,
clothing materials including children’s clothing, footwear,
jerry can and personal hygiene items.
The items were handed over to the UN Resident
Representative Neil Buhne in the UN officer here.
Speaking on the occasion, the Indian High Commissioner
to Sri Lanka Alok Prasad underlined New Delhi's commitments to
the early resettlement of the displaced Tamils. He said the
relief material focused on items for families who will be
resettled in their original homes in the north.
The envoy said the 600-tonnes consignment would cover
80,000 displaced families who are in the welfare camps at
present.
"The Government of India hopes that the process of
resettlement will continue apace. It reiterates its readiness
to work with the government of Sri Lanka in assisting the
latter to fulfil its commitment for early resettlement of all
displaced families to their original habitat," the Indian High
Commission said in a release.
This is the fourth consignment of relief goods from
India meant for the IDP population in northern Sri Lanka.
India had earlier delivered 80,000 family packs in November
2008 and 40,000 family packs in April 2009.
The third consignment of relief supplies in the middle
of May contained 50,000 individually packed family packets. Of
humanitarian relief material intended for the IDPs in Northern
Sri Lanka.
Rishad Badiuddin, the Lankan Minister of Resettlement
and Disaster Relief Services, said the demining work was
continuing in the formerly LTTE-held areas in the North and
the IDPs would be resettled after the clearing operations were
complete.
He said 15,000 families are proposed to be resettled
in the Jaffna district soon.
Over 2,000 civilians were resettled in the Musali
Divisonal secretariat in Mannar district in June.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, August 17, 2009, 21:29