World Refugee Day 2009: Interview with UNHCR Sri Lanka Representative, Dr. Amin Awad

Calling on the government to expedite moves for a speedy reconciliation with all ethnic communities in Sri Lanka, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in Sri Lanka, Amin Awad said that the post-war milieu in the country is very promising and IDPs have a very bright future.

Awad, a Sudanese national who has handled refugees in 11 countries, said that according to his experience with regard to IDPs, the camps in Vavuniya are in good condition and the humanitarian work being carried out is very satisfactory.

While outlining the overall picture as to the facilities for the IDPs, Awad told the `Sunday Observer in an interview that one of the biggest challenges for Sri Lanka, is the rehabilitation of LTTE cadres.

Because this is the first time that a conventional Army has defeated a terror outfit and taken ex-terrorists for rehabilitation, he said.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: According to UNHCR guidelines how do you describe the post-war situation with regard to Northern refugees?

A: The post-war situation here looks very promising and it seems that there is a very bright future for the IDPs. I think, if the economic development begins it will augur well for the North is a region of resources.

In the North West there is the Rice Bowl, and in the North there is the Jaffna Peninsula which has a huge potential for agriculture and fisheries. The most important factor is the consolidation of the livelihood of these IDPs after the restoration of community life. The livelihood empowerment is the number one priority.

Q: What is your assessment of the present situation relating to refugees in the IDP centres?

A: There are two categories of IDPs. One is the mass exodus of 300,000 people who came after the war in the North. There are another 360,000 IDPs who were already displaced before the current crisis started in October 2008.

When the CFA was signed there were 700,000 to 800,000 people and after the CFA half of them went back. And now 360,000 are still there and we are not forgetting them as they also need assistance.

According to statistics, there are over 260,295 IDPs in camps in Vavuniya. There are 434 in Mannar, 11,069 in Jaffna and 6, 697 in Trincomalee.

The second batch of people that we are looking at is the Muslims who fell victim to the LTTE. As the government wants to resettle them, we are ready to provide help. These people need to go back to their own habitats.

Q: How do you compare their living conditions among the other refugees in similar conflicts?

A: I think according to my experience with regard to IDPs around the world the camps in Vavuniya are relatively in good condition. We had problems at the initial stages because the people in large numbers moved in at a very fast pace. We were behind schedule at the beginning and as of now the flow has stopped.

We are working with the government on a de-congested plan to improve the facilities - sanitation and health of these people. The rainy season is coming in and we are preparing for that, especially to facilitate the people in flood prone areas. There is a rapid improvement and I am satisfied with the work that has been done so far.

Link : http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2001/pix/PrintPage.asp?REF=/2009/06/21/fea21.asp

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• IDPS
• Sri
• Lanka
• Sky
• News
• Human
• Tamils
• IDPs
• Camp
• Manik
• Farm
• Eastern
• Province
• Muslim
• Land
• Conflict
• Government
• Discrimination
• Rights
• LTTE
• Tamil
• Tiger
• War
• Military
• Rebels
• SLDF
• Mahinda
• Rajapaksha
• Gottabaya
• Diaspora
• Sinhala
• UN
• HRW
• World
• Refugee
• Day
• YaTV
• Young
• Asia
• Television
• leadership
• UNHCR
• Elections
• National
• Integration
• Amin
• Awad
• Buddhist
• national
• opinion