ASIA/SRI LANKA - Voluntary return to Batticaloa

Batticaloa (Fides Service) - While civil war continues to produces more violence and victims every day there are timid attempts to help people in Sri Lanka, especially in the north and north east, return to normal life. The government of Sri Lanka has launched a campaign to resettle people in the eastern district of Batticaloa, until recently controlled by the Tamil Tiger insurgents LTTE. In the coming months some 90,000 persons displaced by conflict are expected to return to their villages. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees is fully involved in this operation of voluntary repatriation.
UNHCR personnel say most of the displaced people want to return home and that international standards of protection can be met. However UNHCR warns that special attention must be given to categories with specific necessities and has asked the Sri Lankan government to maintain a gradual approach to continue to respect international standards and make sure the return is voluntary. In the meantime UN agencies have full access to west Batticaloa to assist returnees. UNHCR has called on the government to accelerate access for other humanitarian agencies to villages in west Batticaloa, so the assistance programme can continue. People will return to Batticaloa in three groups of about 30,000 each. The returnees will be transported by bus to the villages of origin. Government officials are registering returnee applications and giving identity papers to guarantee freedom of movement. They are also assessing best forms of assistance to ensure basic services and encourage activity of subsistence in the area. (PA)(Agenzia Fides 16/5/2007 righe 26 parole 261)