1)   to ensure that the basic needs of people affected by the conflict are met
2)   to build productive livelihoods, and
3)   to facilitate reconciliation across ethnic lines

Considerable success has been achieved in pursuing these policies.

For instance :

a) In January 2002 at the time of entering into the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) the UNHCR estimated the total number of IDPs in Sri Lanka to be 731,838 persons due to conflict. Today this number has been reduced to 358,386 (UNHCR statistical summary - 31 May, 2006)

b) There are 241 Welfare Camps housing an IDP population of 66,939. The number outside Welfare Camps is 245,773. The number of new IDPs due to recent violence is 45,674 (UNHCR).

c) The Returns of IDP’s are as follows :

(UNHCR statistical summary - 31 May 2006)

Recent Legal and Policy Framework to address the Problem

• November 2005: The establishment of the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA). It aims to combine the work of the separate task forces involved in post – tsunami and post-conflict areas in one agency.



• Two new Ministries i.e. The Ministry of Re-settlement and the Ministry of Nation Building and Development, were created with the change of Government in November 2005 to take over the functions of three former Ministries.



• These three bodies i.e. RADA, Ministry of Re-settlement and the Ministry of Nation Building and Development are empowered to deal with policies, programmes, and projects arising from the conflict and the tsunami. The aim is to ensure a coherent strategy in place for the equal treatment of both conflict and tsunami – affected displaced.



• International agencies (such as the UNHCR) and NGO’s have the Government’s blessings in addressing the concerns of the IDPs.

Food Relief

The Ministry of Nation Building and Development provides Relief and Humanitarian assistance to IDP families in both the cleared and uncleared areas in the North and the East. Food items upto a maximum of Rs.1,260 per month per family is provided. In cleared areas food relief is provided through MPCSS in the area, through funds allocated by the Ministry of Nation Building and Development. In uncleared areas dry rations are procured by the Ministry and distributed via Government Agents.

According to latest figures (as at May 31, 2006), the approximate monthly value of dry rations supplied by the Ministry of Nation Building and Development to IDPs in the various Districts in the North and East are as follows :

District	Total number of IDPs --------------------	Approximate monthly value of Dry Rations -------------------------
Jaffna	147,101	Rs.40,568,000
Kilinochchi	66,931	Rs.17,054,000
Mullativu	73,832	Rs.19,306,000
Mannar	41,185	Rs. 9,836,000
Vavuniya	50,891	Rs.12,460,000
Trincomalee	17,786	Rs. 5,272,000
Batticaloa	3,957	Rs. 1,001,000
Ampara	382	Rs. 96,000

(Figures are available for other Districts)

Unified Assistance Scheme

Families that have returned for resettlement are paid an allowance of Rs.25,000/- under the Unified Assistance Scheme. They are provided food relief up to 12 months after resettlement.

Forcible Eviction of Muslims from the North by the LTTE

Over 60,000 Muslims who were forcibly evicted from their homes in the North by the LTTE in 1990 are currently IDPs living mainly either in or outside Welfare Centres in Puttlam. They have not been allowed to return to their original homes by the LTTE and consequently they remain under the care of the Government.

Trincomalee Task Force

Following recent violence the GoSL has created a Task Force in April 2006 under the chair of the Governor to co-ordinate humanitarian relief efforts with regard to IDPs in the Trincomalee District. The Governor’s mandate has been extended to cover Mannar as well. The Government has indicated its willingness to facilitate the establishment of Open Relief Centres under the protection of the UNHCR, to reduce the flow of refugees to India and to ensure the rapid return of displaced persons.

The Government in ensuring the continued supply of food and other forms of humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced persons living in areas controlled by the LTTE, a belligerent party engaged in hostilities against the State of Sri Lanka, has created an unique precedent in the annals of conflict. Sri Lanka has strong claims to being the only country in the modern era that accepts a moral responsibility to feed its displaced citizens wherever located despite evidence that some of the food supplies are being siphoned off by the LTTE.