TEEDOR appeals IDPs to Resettle

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 November 2002, 14:59 GMT]
Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization (TEEDOR), a development agency working in the NorthEast, has requested displaced residents from villages of Maiyilavettuvan, Eeeralakulam and Veerakkattaru in Eravur regional boundary, 30 km Northwest of Batticaloa, to consider moving back to their villages, source in the east said.

Regular artillary barrages by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA), economic embargo to the region and transport restrictions in early 1990s forced the villagers to seek refuge in villages of Sithandy, Vantharumoolai and Palachcholai.

The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) struggle to surive on Government handouts. Of the 300 affected families, 40 families from Maiyilavettuvan, and 75 families from Eeeralakulam have already resettled in their native villages within the last six months. Ministry of Rehabilitation gave each settler family Rs.2000 and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) built the needed huts.

Mr. Anpumany, TEEDOR director for Maiyilavettuvan region, appealed to the remaining refugees to consider resettling and promised TEEDOR assistance with seedlings, seeds and other support for the resettlers to reengage in agriculture, farming and raising cattle.

District Secretary of Eravur, Mr. Maheson, said that several activities are ongoing to speed up resettlement. He added the he and other NGOs have requested the Ministry of Rehabilitation to allocate funds to assist in the resettlement program, and that refugees will be provided the help they need to resettle as soon as the moneys are approved.