The figure of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Vavuniya has for the first time come down below 200,000. Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe said in a press briefing yesterday (26) that the total number of IDPs in Vavuniya is now 196,088 in the 16 IDP welfare centres. As at 26 Oct, the total number of IDPs who have returned to their original districts of habitat from Menik Farm was 45,030.

With the steps taken by the government for decongestion in the centres since last Thursday, the IDP figure will continue to decrease. IDPs are being resettled daily, the Minister further stated.

In other districts too, the IDP figure has been brought down. As at 26 Oct, the total number of IDPs in Jaffna is down to 6896. In Mannar, the number has been reduced to 1590 which includes old IDPs while in Trincomalee the figure is 6405 as at 26 Oct.

The Minister stated that this has been possible since de-mining was completed in the areas with infrastructure and basic services restored. The government will be providing livelihood assistance to the returnees as well.

At present the government has acquired 14 de-mining machines while another 10 will be received soon. 1000 soldiers have been given special training in de-mining. The Minister stressed that the government is working hard to bring the IDP figure to zero but their absolute priority before resettlement is de-mining.