Resettled Tamil IDPs still lack basic sanitation and water, despite various claims by Racist Sinhala Govt officials in the South...!!!

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Housing Chaos In Kilinochchi

Posted by Michael on Apr 25th, 2010 and filed under News.
By Udara Soysa in Killinochchi

Resettled IDPs and Many resettled residents still lack basic sanitation and water
Despite various claims by government officials in the south, the housing situation remains challenging in newly-resettled areas in the north, according to residents in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

As soon as the war ended in the north on May 18, the entire population of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu were placed in IDP camps in Vavuniya. However, between September 2009 to February 2010 many of the Kilinochchi population were resettled.

According to government sources, nearly 25,000 people out of the original population will have been resettled in Kilinochchi by this week. However, many of the resettled community complained of lack of basic facilities.

“I feel that we are living lives of animals. We are living in extremely confined spaces. There are eight of us living in this small tented house,” said Padmini Rasanayagam of northern Kilinochchi.

“One of the major problems is the heat created by these roofing sheets (made of galvanized steal). The heat is unbearable during the day time,” Raja Padamanathan told The Sunday Leader.

Many residents also blamed the LTTE for their current plight.

“I am so glad that LTTE is over” Padamanathan said. “They started this whole mess in the first place. Our lives under the LTTE were tough. However, we do not see much improvement when it comes to living conditions.

“Many of us suffered a lot during this conflict. We are hoping to live better lives. The government and the south must realise it is the LTTE and not us that is their enemy. We are innocent people and we should be given proper livelihoods and living conditions.”
Meanwhile, a local NGO worker who did not wanted to be identified said that the government had done a hasty job in resettling.

“The government had a lot of pressure from the West on resettlement issues,” he said.

“Thus the government hastily resettled people in a face saving effort.

“The Army had done a commendable job in making improvised housing structures for the population. Some of the housing structures had been built by the people themselves. However, there are a lot of issues, including lack of water supplies, basic sanitation and roofing problems, and these should be addressed by officials.”
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12 Responses for
“Housing Chaos In Kilinochchi”

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anthony jones says:
April 25, 2010 at 3:23 amGlad that the battle is over, the people affected must be allowed and given all the necessary help to start living as normal citizens again.

Thrilled as the article states that the Army is helpful and doing a wonderful job. Well done.

I am positive that at the rate that things are happening especially in the north the whole part will be developed soon. a j.

Reply
Sid says:
April 25, 2010 at 11:52 amWhat is happening to the expats? If they help during the war, surely, this is the time they should be helping

Reply
anthony jones says:
April 25, 2010 at 2:04 pmSid: During the war the expats or the diaspora as they are called helped in many a way.

Now the war is finished, can you tell me how they can help ?.

The government is still on a war footing, they are keeping on building more and more camps and buddhist temples, I am told that even cattle do not worship these places and that there are no buddhists around except the troops.

Unfortunately with the present track-record of the leaders who are in power due to rorting of tsunami funds etc nobody even the IMF has ceased to be the donors.

If only the TRO nown as the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation is allowed to function without any strings attached then it will be a different story.

I am attaching another comment for your persual.

hotchoc56 says:
April 25, 2010 at 8:52 amI WAS in the North a couple of weeks back and toured extensively, speaking to civillians. Frankly speaking, I couldn’t see ANY development despite what the Govt says! Mind you, this is one year after the war ended!

In my opinion due to the antics of the government the ball will always be in their court till they see the light of the day. a j.

Reply Chamalka says:
April 25, 2010 at 12:38 pmNGO WORKERS AND THE MEDIA IS NOW SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID A BAD JOB RE SETTLING PEOPLE BUT WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ? THE VERY N.G.O THEIR MEDIA GOONS AND THE WESTERN GOVERNMENTS WHO PUT UN REASONABLE PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. NOW ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TO ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT WITH MONEY AND MATERIALS TO REBUILT RATHR THAN BLAMING THE GOVERNMENT.

Reply
anthony jones says:
April 25, 2010 at 9:35 pmHow cool, on one hand the govt just before staging the rigged polls wanted to clip the wings of the NGO’s and now the likes of Chamalaka wants the snooping meddling foreign curses to send more and more funds to fatten the bulging waist-lines of the powerful rulers.

The rulers have got to get their perspectives right in the first place, sincerely care for the people ir-respective of caste, creed or colour, then one and all will gleefully help.

Till then it will be a case of wet-dreams and wishful thinking. DREAMS ARE FREE THEY SAY. a j.

Reply Tulshi says:
April 25, 2010 at 7:16 amLet us build our lives and try to live in happiness and peace .We had enough of politics of separatism . We lost lives and today we are reduced to almost nothing. Let us try to find a way live in harmony and trusting each other.

Reply Psycho says:
April 25, 2010 at 7:20 amWhen these poor guys are suffering, SF cannot live without a/c.

Reply hotchoc56 says:
April 25, 2010 at 8:52 amI WAS in the North a couple of weeks back and toured extensively, speaking to civillians. Frankly speaking, I couldn’t see ANY development despite what the Govt says! Mind you, this is one year after the war ended!

Reply
Native Vedda says:
April 25, 2010 at 3:31 pmThe reason for the mess is all to do with the state’s militarisation objectives and eventual land grabbing from the proletariats.

State’s objectives and needs of the people don’t mix.

Those who praise the President and armed forces for an efficient prosecution of war which killed many civilian must take responsibilty for the mess that they have deliberately created this untold suffereing to people who never had a say in this madness.

Now the LTTE is no more, thanks to Indian’s and the International Community, Gota’s scare mongering is no longer necessary.

If the state and it’s politico military leaders were able to prosecute an efficient war, they should be able to rebuild the shattered lives of the people too with double efficiency, with out any ulterrior motive.

Why should the state take care of the people when its interest lies elsewhere?

Reply Malin says:
April 26, 2010 at 5:55 amThese people should be happy that they at least can air their grievances against authority unlike they were under the Jackboots of LTTE. This situation was not created by the Govt but by the LTTE terrorists who were at the early stages overwhelmingly supported by 99.9% of Tamils living in the North and East. They should be patient as the Govt can’t do miracles and also to bear in mind that thousands of Sinhalese villagers are still living in mud thatched houses with no basic facilities.

Reply
hotchoc56 says:
April 26, 2010 at 6:41 pmThey’ve waited for an year already. f you’ve been to the North (like I was 2 weeks ago), you’ll see that NOTHING has been done.

Its funny how totally unnecessary facilities are coming up in Hambantota not even using Sri Lankan labour – and we are PAYING for it! And I urge you to GO to Hambantota and see whteher the plight of the Sinhala villagers is any better!!

As to your comment that 99.9% Tamils in the North and East supported the Tigers, I shall not dignify that with a response!!

Reply Ernest says:
April 26, 2010 at 11:58 pmAre there any buildings left in Killinochchi? 00.01% Tamils are Douglas and Karuna. Are Tamils to be blamed for the poverty of poor Sinhalese? Rajapakse and co are lying not only to the whole world but also to their own Sinhala people. Nothing would change until the war criminals are brought to justice.

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