12,000 Madu IDPs redisplaced, says report

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 April 2008, 12:34 GMT]
More than 12,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from Madu have moved out to safer areas along villages located close to A-32 Mannar-Pooneryn highway north of Madu, a situation report from Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) issued this week said.

"The TRO continues to make arrangements and transport the IDPs from the place of displacement to the areas they wish to be temporarily settled. TRO is also constructing and providing shelters, drinking water, health, Non-Food Relief Items (NFRI) and other emergency relief assistance. The UN, iNGOs, and local NGOs are providing medical and other humanitarian assistance to the IDPs," the report said.

Nearly 600 children from Vaddakandal Government Tamil Mixed School (GTMS) and Adampan Roman Catholic Tamil Mixed School (RCTMS), were displaced to Theavanpiddi, which have stretched the resources of the Mannar Theavanpiddi school that catered for 180 children in two small buildings. The Principal of Theavanpiddi school said they are struggling to find space and furniture for the new arrivals, and the school lacks basic facilities including water and sanitation for the expanded student population.

World Food Program (WFP) is providing one meal a day to the displaced children, according to the principal.