Press Releases
U.S. Embassy Statement on IDP Returns
Colombo, October 28, 2009: The United States welcomes the Government of Sri Lanka's acceleration of the voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their villages. We are encouraged by the Government's announcement that it intends in the next few weeks to facilitate the voluntary return of over 40,000 of the approximately 250,000 IDPs in the camps, and we understand that thousands have already been released. We will continue to closely monitor the situation.
The United States firmly believes that the rapid release and voluntary return of all IDPs is a critical element of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka. The United States is supporting the voluntary returns process by providing $6.6 million to international demining organizations for humanitarian demining assistance, $4 million to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist returnees as they arrive to their homes, and contributions to the World Food Program for the provision of six-months' dry rations to returning families.
We will look for additional ways to support the Government of Sri Lanka in this critical effort. During the last two years, the U.S. has contributed over $87 million in humanitarian assistance, including funding that has provided over seven million meals for Sri Lankans living in IDP camps.