IDPs at drowning point...!!! Renewed campaigns worldwide urging the government to ease restrictions placed on the freedom of movement of IDPs..!!!

IDPs at drowning point

LATRINES CLOGGED
'ASTOUNDING STATE'
By a Staff Correspondent

Torrential rains in the last three days made life even more miserable and excruciating for the IDPs held in the refugee camps in Menik Farm as pressure mounted internationally on the government to take immediate action regarding IDPs.
Incessant rain experienced in the latter part of last week has left the IDPs languishing on soggy floors while the sanitary facilities were greatly affected raising alarming concerns about water contamination and hygiene issues, sources based in Vavuniya said.
“The rain has caused the temporary toilet pits dug in the camps to overflow while some pits were completely damaged,” our sources told LAKBIMAnEWS.
Over 260, 000 Internally Displaced Persons who had survived the intense fighting during the final stages of the war are housed in the camps in Menik Farm.
Among the camps most severely affected are zone 3 and zone 4, according to our source.
“The roads have turned muddy and impassable affecting the food supply to the IDPs” sources said.
“Efforts to clear water stagnation were underway, but even as I talk, there is a downpour,” sources said last evening over the phone.
“The worst is yet to come when the monsoon arrives,” sources added.
Asked to describe the scene, some said: “The situation is astounding. It is becoming increasingly unbearable for the IDPs as the latrines are damaged and emitting stench. They are left to languish on soggy floors and are unable to sleep.”
The government which pledged the United Nations and India in May this year that 80% of the IDPs would be resettled in 6 months, recently indicated that the task would take a longer period on the grounds that the “screening process” needed to be completed.
Minister of Resettlement, Rishard Badhiyudeen, when contacted by this newspaper over the phone for a comment, asked us to “call back in 15 minutes”. But the minister remained “un-reachable” since.
However, Badhiyudeen was quoted as telling BBC Sandeshaya that “we have provided the displaced people with bread and we hope to resume cooking from tomorrow”.
It has also been reported that the government is in discussions with the UN on a monsoon contingency plan.
Meanwhile, there were renewed campaigns worldwide urging the government to ease restrictions placed on the freedom of movement of IDPs.

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