The United Nations says that nearly a hundred thousand ineternally displaced people (IDPs) are still accommodated in temporary camps.
All of them were displaced due to the conflict between the Tamil Tigers and Government security forces.
A report published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that about almost twice the amount have been released.
However the figure quoted by Presidient Rajapaksha to the visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao was 70,000.
In an interview with BBC Sandeshaya minister of resettlement Rishad Badurdeen said that due to problems faced with landmine clearance the anticipated target of resettling all displaced people by the end of January could not be achieved.
The displaced who were released have been settled in in Vavuniya, Mannar, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kandy said the OCHA report.
The reports said only about 83,000 have been settled in their places of origin. Most have been settled with host families.
The OCHA report also warns that the provision of cooked meals for IDP’s at the Menik Farm centre may cease at he beginning of March due to lack of funds .
The report notes that the limited number of partners approved to implement projects in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts continues to raise concern.
The report highlights that the increasing numbers of the internally displaced returning to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu is adding pressure on available shelter and sanitation fasilities as existing facilities have exceeded capacities available on the ground. (BBC)
