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Friday, August 21, 2009 - 4.15 GMT |
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Govt’s goal resettlement of IDPs in original areas of residents
- Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe |
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The
government’s
eventual
goal is
the
resettlement
of IDPs
in the
areas in
which
they
originally
resided,
said
Disaster
Management
and
Human
Rights
Minister
Mahinda
Samarasinghe,
addressing
the
parliament
yesterday,
Aug. 20.
 The
Minister
said
this
process
requires
ensuring
that the
areas of
return
must be
safe,
free of
mines
and
other
unexploded
ordnance
(UXO)
which
could
cause
immeasurable
harm if
not
cleared.
These
are
challenges
that the
Government
of His
Excellency
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
has
taken on
and we
are
determined
to
overcome
them.
The
Minister
was
speaking
on a
debate
about
the
situation
caused
in the
IDP
relief
villages
by the
recent
heavy
rains.
He said
that
according
to
reports
from
Disaster
Management
Centre,
there
was no
stagnation
of
rainwater
inside
the
camps. I
repeat
that
there is
no
large-scale
flooding
in the
camps
and as I
have
said
earlier,
construction
work is
ongoing
to
improve
the
conditions.
With
regard
to
Healthcare
and
Nutrition
Minister,
he said
the
moderate
rain
that
occurred
last
week has
not
resulted
in any
major
health
or
health
related
issues.
None of
the
health
centers
were
affected
and all
centers
are
functioning
at
normal
capacity.
Health
personnel
are
supplied
with
adequate
protective
clothing
and are
actively
working.
The
communicable
disease
situation
is
monitored
closely
and, so
far,
there is
no
reported
increase
of any
communicable
disease.
Commenting
on
preparedness
for the
excepted
monsoon
rains
the
Minister
said the
government
has made
substantial
progress
in
preventing
and/or
mitigating
the risk
of
flooding
in the
camps in
the
Menik
Farm
area. In
accordance
with
decisions
taken to
date the
Disaster
Management
Center’s
Disaster
Risk
Management
programme
assisted
by the
United
Nations
Development
Programme
(UNDP)
will
bear the
costs of
developing
contour
maps for
all IDP
zones
while
the
United
Nations
High
Commissioner
for
Refugees
(UNHCR)
will
support
initiatives
related
to
drainage
system
development.
Commenting
on the
Wadakkin
Wasantham
(Northern
Spring)
Minister
Samarasinghe
said
after
wide
consultation,
Disaster
Management
and
Human
Rights
has just
completed
a
national
framework
proposal
on the
reintegration
of
ex-combatants
into
civilian
life.
This
proposal
takes a
holistic
view of
reintegration
which
includes
not only
disarmament
and
demobilization
followed
by
rehabilitation
but also
transitional
justice,
reinsertion
and
socio-economic
integration.
In
conclusion,
the
Minister
said the
government
was
acutely
conscious
that the
IDPs
currently
in
Vavuniya
are Sri
Lankans
who have
every
expectation
that the
Government
will
care for
them and
enable
them to
resume
their
normal
lives
within
the
shortest
possible
space of
time.
This is
a task
that we
have
undertaken
and it
is one
we are
confident
of
overcoming.
Here is
the text
of the
Minister’s
speech
Today,
19
August
2009,
marks
the
commemoration
of the
first
ever
World
Humanitarian
Day.
Last
December,
the
United
Nations
General
Assembly
decided
to
commemorate
this day
to
coincide
with the
death,
six
years
ago of
the then
Special
Representative
of the
UN
Secretary
General
to Iraq
and
former
UN High
Commissioner
for
Human
Rights,
Sérgio
Vieira
de
Mello.
He,
along
with 21
of his
colleagues,
tragically
lost
their
lives in
the
massive
Canal
Hotel
bomb
explosion
in
Baghdad,
Iraq.
Unfortunately,
before
that
incident
and
since
then,
there
have
been
several
other
incidents
in
several
parts of
the
world
where
humanitarian
workers
have
been
harmed
or
killed.
Today we
recall
their
service
with
gratitude
and
collectively,
as a
global
community,
pay
tribute
to their
memory.
Mr
Speaker,
Sri
Lanka
has
emerged
into the
light
after
more
than 25
years of
battling
terrorism.
The
decisive
victory
gained
on the
battlefield
has
thrown
up new
challenges.
Chief
amongst
these is
the
provision
of
humanitarian
supplies
and
services
to the
internally
displaced
persons
(IDPs)
who were
rescued
from the
Liberation
Tigers
of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE)
during
the
humanitarian
operations
which
concluded
in May
2009.
Our
eventual
goal is
their
resettlement
in the
areas
which
they
originally
resided.
This
process
requires
ensuring
that the
areas of
return
must be
safe,
free of
mines
and
other
unexploded
ordnance
(UXO)
which
could
cause
immeasurable
harm if
not
cleared.
These
are
challenges
that the
Government
of His
Excellency
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
has
taken on
and we
are
determined
to
overcome
them.
This
process
of
resettlement,
reconstruction,
development,
and
national
reconciliation,
Mr.
Speaker,
should
result
in a
society
and a
nation
in which
everyone
is able
to enjoy
the full
gamut of
rights
that are
enshrined
in the
Chapter
on
Fundamental
Rights
in the
Constitution.
Everyone
should
feel
equal to
one
another
and the
postulates
of
equality
in the
Constitutional
document
should
not be
confined
to mere
words on
paper
but must
be made
a
practical
reality.
In
ensuring
this
equality
of
status,
treatment
and
opportunity
we must
nurture
and
celebrate
the
wonderfully
rich
diversity
that
characterizes
Sri
Lankan
society.
Our
country’s
multi-cultural,
multi-lingual,
multi-ethnic
and
multi-religious
makeup
must be
maintained
in order
that
everyone
can play
an
active
and
productive
part in
the
process
of
national
reconciliation
initiated
by His
Excellency
the
President.
It is
when
this new
Sri
Lanka is
created
that we
can
genuinely
claim
that we
have
overcome
the many
challenges
we are
faced
with.
Mr
Speaker,
Nearly a
month
ago, on
22 July
I had
occasion
to
address
this
House on
a
similar
theme
during
an
Adjournment
Debate
dealing
with the
situation
of IDPs.
On that
day, I
detailed
the
various
measures
that the
Government
was
taking
in
cooperation
with its
national
and
international
partners
to care
for the
people
in
welfare
centers
and
relief
villages.
I noted
then
that the
situation
was not
ideal
but
pointed
out that
there
had been
a
gradual
improvement
in
conditions
since
the
month of
May.
Today’s
debate,
Mr.
Speaker,
is more
focused
as the
motion
moved by
our Hon
colleague
concentrates
on the
situation
caused
by the
recent
rains
and the
fears of
flooding
and
attendant
health
risks.
We
anticipated
that the
impending
rains
could
cause
conditions
in the
camps to
deteriorate
and I
directed
the
Disaster
Management
Centre (DMC),
which
comes
under
the
purview
of my
Ministry,
to
evolve a
strategy
together
with the
other
operational
agencies
working
in the
Chettikulam
area to
deal
with the
threat
of
inundation.
To
facilitate
this we
used the
mechanism
of the
National
Disaster
Management
Coordination
Committee
(NDMCC)
which is
the
coordination
structure
for all
government,
non-government
and
private
organizations
working
on
disaster
management
related
areas.
The
NDMCC
has
developed
collaborative
programmes
between
member
organizations
in order
to
harness
the
synergies
of
different
organizations
to
manage
disasters
effectively
and
efficiently.
The
NDMCC is
operational
since
November
2007 and
has a
membership
of over
seventy
government,
non-government
and
private
organizations.
The
wealth
of
experience
and
resources
available
in the
members
of NDMCC
are
being
used
strategically
to find
sustainable
solutions
for the
humanitarian
and
development
issues
faced by
the IDPs.
Mr
Speaker,
I can
report
that we
have
made
substantial
progress
in
preventing
and/or
mitigating
the risk
of
flooding
in the
camps in
the
Menik
Farm
area. In
accordance
with
decisions
taken to
date the
Disaster
Management
Centre’s
Disaster
Risk
Management
programme
assisted
by the
United
Nations
Development
Programme
(UNDP)
will
bear the
costs of
developing
contour
maps for
all IDP
zones
while
the
United
Nations
High
Commissioner
for
Refugees
(UNHCR)
will
support
initiatives
related
to
drainage
system
development.
The
project
will be
implemented
in two
stages
to
minimize
the
delays
that
could
occur
between
the
planning
and
implementation
periods.
Under
the
first
phase,
the
drainage
systems
of the
zones
01, 03
and 04
will be
developed.
The Sri
Lanka
Reclamation
and
Development
Corporation
has
undertaken
the
construction
of
drains
in Zones
1 and 3.
The
local
road
development
division
(RDD) is
working
in zone
4.
Rainwater
disposal
system
is
scheduled
to be
completed
by 15
September.
The DMC
has
undertaken
to
develop
the
drainage
system
in Zone
02 in
collaboration
with the
United
Nations
Office
for
Project
Services
(UNOPS)
based
the
contour
maps
developed
by the
Survey
Department.
At
present,
this
initiative
is
ongoing
to
construct
the
system
in Zone
2. I
have
received
reports
to the
effect
that
Over 50%
of the
work is
completed
Under
the
second
phase of
the
project,
the
drainage
systems
of zones
05, 06A,
6B,
Dharmapuram,
Veerapuram
and
Sunethipuram
will be
developed.
The
different
phases
of the
project
were
designed
considering
the
potential
severity
of the
drainage
issue
and the
size of
the
population
living
in
respective
zones.
The
zones
with
large
populations
and
potentially
severe
drainage
issues
were
included
in the
first
phase of
the
project.
Based on
the
reports
I have
received
we have
ever
confidence
that a
much
improved
rainwater
disposal
system
will be
available
by 15
September.
As of
last
evening,
I have
received
reports
from the
DMC to
the
effect
that
there is
no
stagnation
of
rainwater
inside
the
camps. I
repeat
that
there is
no
large-scale
flooding
and as I
have
said
earlier,
construction
work is
ongoing
to
improve
the
conditions.
Anticipating
problems
connected
with
sewerage
disposal
which
could be
encountered
during
the
rainy
season
we have
taken
steps to
address
this
issue as
well. We
took
measures
to
prevent
the risk
of
collapsing
walls of
septic
tanks
due to
horizontal
forces
after
heavy
rain.
This
could
result
in
adverse
environmental
impacts.
The DMC
coordinated
the
visit of
consultants
to these
sites
and
several
remedial
actions
were
made.
The DMC
coordinated
with the
Central
Environmental
Authority
(CEA) to
introduce
a
suitable
waste
management
plan
that can
be
executed
during
the
forthcoming
rainy
season.
A team
of CEA
officials
were
accompanied
by
officers
from the
DMC and
the UNDP
and
visited
IDP
settlements
in
Vavuniya
from 12
to 14
August
2009.
Steps
have
also
been
taken to
initiate
a
hospital
waste
disposal
system
for the
Menik
Farm
area and
we
expect
that a
project
proposal
will be
submitted
by CEA
in the
near
future.
Moving
on to
the
health
issue,
Mr.
Speaker,
I am
informed
by the
Ministry
of
Healthcare
and
Nutrition
that the
moderate
rain
that
occurred
last
week has
not
resulted
in any
major
health
or
health
related
issues.
None of
the
health
center’s
were
affected
and all
centers
are
functioning
at
normal
capacity.
Health
personnel
are
supplied
with
adequate
protective
clothing
and are
actively
working.
The
communicable
disease
situation
is
monitored
closely
and, so
far,
there is
no
reported
increase
of any
communicable
disease..
The
Ministry
of
Healthcare
and
Nutrition
took
proactive
steps to
establish
a
specialized
unit to
monitor
and
coordinate
health
supplies
and
service
delivery
some
time
ago.
They
report
that
measures
are
underway
to
strengthen
the
roofing
of the
existing
health
facilities
and
ensure
provision
of
appropriate
and
adequate
drug
storing
facilities.
With
regard
to
disease
control,
the
existing
communicable
disease
surveillance
system
is
geared
to
monitor
the
communicable
disease
situation
closely
in order
to
prevent
epidemics.
Vector
surveillance
activities
will be
commenced
immediately
by
entomological
teams
and
there
will be
a
further
strengthening
of the
fly
control
measures
and
develop
a
mechanism
to
improve
supervision
of
garbage
disposal
and
removal.
The
Ministry
has also
made
recommendations
in
respect
of
preparation
for the
anticipated
rains
which
include
identification
of
alternative
accommodation
for
people
in flood
prone
areas,
especially
for the
elderly
and
disabled,
to keep
a stock
of extra
tents
ready
and the
need for
cementing
the
floors
of the
existing
shelters.
In order
to
maintain
quality
standards
in water
and
sanitation,
it is
necessary
to
strengthen
the
existing
system
which
supervise
water
and
sanitation
with the
support
of the
PHIs,
increase
the
number
of
permanent
and
temporary
latrines
in every
zone, to
augment
the
water
purification
system
by
distributing
chlorine
tablets
to
households
and to
water
storage
facilities,
to
strengthen
laboratory
facilities
at
Vavuniya
for
testing
of water
quality
and to
carry
out
super
chlorination
during
floods.
I am
going
into
this
much
detail
to
demonstrate
very
clearly
to Hon
Members
that the
Government
is
taking
its
responsibility
to care
for
these
displaced
Sri
Lankans
very
seriously.
We are
looking
into
every
small
issue
and are
taking
measures
in
advance
to
address
problems
before
they can
arise.
Mr
Speaker,
Other
activities
to
assist
and
support
IDPs are
proceeding
at a
rapid
pace. We
have
completed
registration
of
144,000
persons.
100,000
identity
cards
have
been
issued
to the
Police
for
distribution
and
75,000
cards
have
reached
the
intended
recipients.
I am
also
happy to
inform
this
House
that we
have
managed
to
ensure
the
construction
of 112
child
friendly
spaces
in the
camps.
These
are
especially
necessary
to
enable
children
to have
some
space to
relax
and
interact.
We have
also
taken
steps to
create
service
protection
centers
on the
basis of
one for
every
5,000
IDPs to
enable
them to
access
the
range of
services
that are
made
available
by the
Government.
We have
taken
steps to
release
approximately
9,000
persons
including
the
elderly,
pregnant
women
and
lactating
mothers
and
children.
We have
also
been
able to
resettle
4,500
persons
from
camps in
Vavuniya
in
Jaffna,
Trincomalee,
Kantale
and
Battticaloa.
These
processes
are
ongoing.
Mr
Speaker,
We are
not only
looking
at the
short
term
provision
of care
and
assistance.
In
support
of the
Wadakkin
Wasantham
(Northern
Spring)
initiative
of His
Excellency
the
President,
my
Ministry
has,
after
wide
consultation,
just
completed
a
national
framework
proposal
on the
reintegration
of
ex-combatants
into
civilian
life.
This
proposal
takes a
holistic
view of
reintegration
which
includes
not only
disarmament
and
demobilization
followed
by
rehabilitation
but also
transitional
justice,
reinsertion
and
socio-economic
integration.
This
process
will
enable
those
who took
part in
the
conflict
to
rebuild
their
lives
and
become
productive
members
of
society.
We are
in the
process
of
formulating
an
action
plan in
keeping
with the
national
framework
in close
consultation
and
coordination
with the
various
Government
focal
points.
We stand
ready to
assist
the
various
Government
agencies
with
mobilization
of donor
funding
to
assist
in
implementation
if such
a
requirement
arises.
We have
also put
in place
a
strategy
of
Confidence
Building
and
Stabilization
Measures
which
will
sustain
and help
the
resettlement
process
now
being
carried
out
under
the
aegis of
Hon
Basil
Rajapakse,
Chairman
of the
Presidential
Task
Force
for
Resettlement,
Development
and
Security
in the
Northern
Province,
with the
support
of Hon
Minister
Rishad
Bathiudeen.
In the
medium
term, my
Ministry
is
drafting
a
National
Action
Plan for
the
Promotion
and
Protection
of Human
Rights
that
will
also
include
a
thematic
component
on IDPs
rights
among
other
critically
important
areas.
As I
said
earlier,
all our
efforts
must fit
in under
the
larger
umbrella
of His
Excellency
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa’s
inclusive
national
reconciliation
process
which
involves
all
political
parties.
Our
efforts
must all
buttress
and
contribute
to that
overall
national
exercise
which is
of
critical
importance
to the
future
of our
Sri
Lankan
nation.
In
conclusion,
Mr
Speaker,
I must
reassure
you, and
through
you the
Hon
Members
of this
House
and the
people
of this
country,
that
with
regard
to the
IDPs in
Vavuniya
and
elsewhere
we are
acutely
conscious
that
these
are Sri
Lankans
who have
every
expectation
that the
Government
will
care for
them and
enable
them to
resume
their
normal
lives
within
the
shortest
possible
space of
time.
This is
a task
that we
have
undertaken
and it
is one
we are
confident
of
overcoming.
Thank
you
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