The conditions at the IDP sites in North are in line with international standards, UNHCR the international lead agency for the internally displaced persons, says in a statement yesterday (31).

In this statement UNHCR states it wishes to make reference to the Guidance Note outlining principles on protection and assistance with regards to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Vanni in the districts of Vavuniya, Jaffna and Mannar.

UNHCR welcomes recent initiatives by the government to start the release of persons with special needs (some 371 elderly persons have already been released) and begin reunifying separated families inside the IDP sites. The agency also notes that the government has drawn up a plan to facilitate visits by relatives of the (IDPs) to the sites, once the registration process is complete, the statement added.

In terms of assistance, UNHCR continues to support the government with regular distribution of non-food items and protection monitoring along with efforts to resolve decongestion, among other issues, at the transit/IDP sites.

UNHCR is satisfied with aid distributions so far and will continue to provide assistance to the IDPs at the sites. As displacement continues, the Agency will also carry out regular gaps analysis to better respond to new arrivals in the three districts.