The Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from Vanni brought to Jaffna and resettled have not been given economic or other assistance as promised and are facing severe hardships, civil society organizations in Jaffna expressed concern. Some of the IDP families are still to be paid the initial payment of 5,000 rupees while the families who were told that their second payment of 25,000 rupees will be paid before 15 January have not been paid the amount. Jaffna Secretariat officials refused to comment on the issue, sources in Jaffna said.
More than 72,000 Vanni IDPs were brought to Jaffna peninsula and most of them are staying with relatives or friends while the rest have put up temporary huts on waste lands.
Dry food rations including rice, wheat flour, sugar, dhal and cooking oil are given under World Food Programme but the IDPs do not have the means to buy other necessary food items.
The situation has forced the IDPs to seek daily labour work which is not readily available.
The IDPs were promised by government authorities that an initial payment of 5,000 rupees will be given and the second payment will be 25,000 rupees. It was further said that an amount will be deposited in the bank in their names.
So far none of the IDPs had been given the promised 25,000 rupees.
The IDPs want the government of provide assistance to find a substantial means of living but their future appears uncertain and bleak due to the negligence of government authorities, the sources further said.
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