IOM assists refugees returning from India

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 September 2004, 01:56 GMT]
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the financial support of AUSAID of the Australian Government commenced Monday in Trincomalee the distribution of livelihood development assistance to Tamil refugees returning from India, civil sources in Trincomalee said.



The first batch of twenty five beneficiaries from Division No 10 area, Thirukdaloor, Kuchchaveli, Kumburupiddy and Salli in the Trincomalee district were provided with fishing nets, fishing crafts, masonry equipments and materials for poultry farming.

The beneficiaries were also provided with first cash payment of Rs: 1,500/=. This financial assistance will be provided to them for a period of six months, sources said.

Trincomalee District Rehabilitation Project Director Mr.Hussaindeen Monday at the Trincomalee Sri Shanmuga Boys Home inaugurated the distribution of materials and financial incentives to a group of Tamils who fled to India and sought refuge there due to ethnic pogrom in Sri Lanka.

A woman returnee going back to her home with materials needed for poultry farming

Mr.Hussaindeen said due to the two decade old war several hundreds of Tamil families from Trincomalee district were displaced internally and some to India and other countries. The total number of displaced from Trincomalee district was 57,563. Of them 50 thousand have returned to Trincomalee district, he added.

IOM official Mr.S. Karikalan made the welcome address. IOM Project Officer in Trincomalee Mr.S. Muralitharan, Jesuit Rehabilitation Society (JRS) Project Director Mr.S. Ganesh also spoke.

IOM is the principal intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. Established in 1951,102 countries are currently IOM members and a further 29 hold observer status, as do numerous international governmental and non-governmental organizations, sources said.

Although IOM is not part of the United Nations system, it has held observer status in the General Assembly since 1992, sources said.







IOM's mandate is to help ensure the orderly flow of international migrants; to promote international co-operation on migrant issues; to aid in search for practical solution to migrant problems; and contribute to international solidarity by providing humanitarian assistance to people in need, sources said.