The much affected community; the IDPs and WHFs in the northern and eastern districts together with southern fellow citizens gathered at Colombo on Monday 07th to demand their right, right to land and livelihoods the Life of the people.
The IDPs have been living in camp life since 1990. 25 years of camp life means half of their life time.
They havent treated as citizens of Sri Lankan society. All most all the camp people have not given any humanitarian assistance given to poor in the other parts of the country such as Samurdhi welfare assistance. Most of the camps we visited during our survey last 24-26 August observed that there is Drinking water facilities for 55/. of the camps which is basic facility for any living organism.
The wasted temporary shelters are the most we could see in the peninsula and need to address housing issue in the area over displaced communities.
Poor sanitary conditions, insecure camp life further worsen the life of women and girl children.
It is reported the below average facilities for the camp dwellers in many aspects.
. Economic difficulties due to loss of livelihoods, land fisheries,
. Cultural difficulties due to loss of own villages and living others areas as aliens
. Sucurity issues for WHF and children
. Social and health issues and particularly due to poor sanitary facilities
. Education and drop out of schools going children due to poverty and their neglegence,
At a national seminar in Colombo, the group of Women and men from IDP camps firmly stated that "We need to go back to our Lands and not the welfare schemes or subsidy we want. Once we get back to our own land, we can do our livelihoods such as Fisheries and fishing. Till we revive the life we may need basic facilities. We have our foundations of the houses."
Reconfirming the people's just demand, Nimalka Fernando, a prominent HR Defender in Sri Lanka said, "We are not here to say there is no toilets, no water, no any other facilities to the IDPs and WHF in the camp life. But we are here to say Give the Land back to the war affected communities immediately."
We can not allow them to continue the same fate as they experienced for past 25 years any more added Nimalka.
Rajeshwarie, who is a WHF shared her camp experience and said; "We heard here that the shameful politicins have told that there is no single IDP in the country from 26th September 2012. How those people say so? All are lying and neglecting our rights. We want to live secure life with our children in a secure life. No one can say there is no IDPs but need to address them immediately."
If this government do not do that people will continue to suffer. "
There were no single responsible political figure did not attend to receive the survey report due to interim period of political transition in the cabinet and ministerial system.
However, one participant came from the IDP camp in Jaffna said; "We can not wait any more for resettlement. It is one month the most we can wait and see the government response. After that we decide our future destiny with our own." This is a serious issue we all in this society to consider.
MS. Weerakkody, the leader of National Women Federation shared,
"We now realized the grievances of the
IDPs. As southern people those are kept hidden. But now we are ready to work with our brothers and sisters in the camps and to address their issues. As a person coming from Galle I realized I have a big role to play."
There is important responses receiving from military and other actors in this firld. Military spokes person shas told there is no land occupied by military and they stay in crown lands. And military is not willing to keep people's land under military.
Even the PM Ranil Wickramasinghe has given an interview to The Hindu news paper last 24th August and said, "the prime issue in the northern province is land. We are taking steps to release land in the hand of military step by step and systematic manner in consultation with the Military.
We as NAFSO is firmly believe present government has a moral obligation besides the right of the people as the President Maithripala Sirisena got majority votes from the N/ E people otherwise no change happened on 08th January 2015.
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