11,000 IDP Tamil families in Batticaloa still in temporary huts

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 05:04 GMT]
About 42,595 members of 11,528 displaced Tamil families from the districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa have been staying in 41 temporary shelters and with their relatives in Batticaloa. These IDPs include displaced from Chenkalady area from Batticaloa district and Eachchilampathu division in Trincomalee district, civil society sources said.

IDPs of Chenkalady said they preferred to stay in temporary structures and with relatives as the authorities concerned have not ensured their security after resettlement in their own houses.

Majority of IDP families from Eachchilampathu division in Trincomalee district are staying in temporary structures in Batticaloa as they are unable to return to their villages are designated as high security zone after their displacement by the government following the military operation launched by the Sri Lanka Army last year, civil society sources said.

The families have been urging the authorities concerned to resettle them in their own villages as early as possible ensuring their security and livelihood,