UNHCR spotlights Batticaloa IDPs woes

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 October 2006, 09:07 GMT]
UNHCR representative stressed the urgency for providing the basic facilities of displaced people from Pullumalai village in LTTE controlled territory along Chenkaladi-Badulla road in Batticaloa district before the onset of northeast monsoon at a conference held at the Eravur divisional secretariat, sources in Batticaloa said. N.Puvanendran, Divisional Secretary presided.

Representatives of non-governmental organizations, village level officers and government officials participated in the conference.

Resettled families in Pullumalai village have again been displaced due to current conflict, and are residing in villages of Urugamam, Kopaveli, Kittul, Marapalam and several other areas in LTTE held territory without any basic facilities, according to survey conducted by the UNHCR.

Education of the displaced children have been seriously impacted. Teachers have not been posted to these areas to conduct classes. Learning materials have not been provided to students, the UNHCR survey further said.

Essential food items are in short supply. Only Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) has been providing temporary shelters to the IDPs.

International Committee of Red Cross has also been assisting these IDPs. Medical and health services have not been provided to these displaced families. 166 families displaced from Muttur east and Vaharai division have been provided temporary shelters in Eeralaikkulam and Periyavedduvan in Batticaloa district but without basic facilities, the survey conducted revealed.