Baltimore -- Lutheran World Relief (LWR) congratulates the US
House of Representatives for passing Resolution 711, expressing support for Sri Lanka’s internally displaced people (IDPs) and calling on the Sri Lankan government to address humanitarian needs
of ethnic Tamils held in government-run IDP camps. Since the May defeat of the rebel group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the Sri Lankan government has held thousands of Tamils in IDP camps
throughout the country’s Vanni region. While Sri Lanka has recently allowed for the release of 51,000 IDPs, approximately 220,000 remain in camps where they suffer from overcrowded conditions,
undernourishment, trauma and separation from their families.Passed on November 4, House Resolution 711 calls on the Sri Lankan government to “expeditiously allow freedom of movement to
civilian internally displaced people…and give full access to national and international humanitarian organizations and observers…in order to monitor the situation and to assist in the care
of IDPs.” LWR congratulates the House for recognizing the needs of Sri Lankan IDPs, the extraordinary limitation on their human rights because of confinement and the important role
humanitarian organizations play in meeting the needs of IDPs in Sri Lanka. Since June, LWR has provided emergency relief to Tamils held in Manik Farm IDP camp, including daily meals for 27,000
people, nutritional supplements for hospitalized IDPs and psychological and educational support for nearly 25,000 children through play therapy and education centers. LWR Director for Asia and
the Middle East Joanne Fairley explains, “Food, water and psychological support administered by three LWR partners in Manik Farm has saved lives and alleviated suffering, but more must be done.
Camps were not built to house people long-term, and living conditions in Manik Farm are deplorable. LWR supports an expedited release of IDPs still held in camps, and encourages the Sri Lankan
government and international donors to support a full return of IDPs to their homes in the weeks and months ahead.”Annalise Romoser, Acting Director for Public Policy and Advocacy at LWR
adds, “LWR welcomes news of Resolution 711 and thanks the House for recognizing the dire situation of IDPs in Sri Lanka and calling on the Sri Lankan government to release people from camps. “The months ahead are crucial,” explains Romoser. “If long-term peace is to take hold in Sri Lanka, the rights of Tamil IDPs and their humanitarian needs must be addressed by
the Sri Lankan government with critical support from experienced humanitarian agencies. With Resolution 711 the House indicates that the fate of Sri Lankan IDPs is closely tied to the fate of peace in
the Asian nation.”
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
REFILE - CORRECTING DATE Policemen patrol in the northwestern Yemeni town of Rayda November 13, 2009. Fighting between Yemeni troops and Houthi rebels, who say Yemen's Zaidi Shi'ite minority suffers discrimination ...
