Significant improvement in humanitarian access to IDP sites in Sri Lanka - UNHCR report

U.N. agencies and NGOs have observed a significant improvement in humanitarian access to IDP sites in Sri Lanka's North, as well as a decreased military presence inside the camps, a recent report released by the UNHCR said.

According to a July 7 UNHCR report, the improved access has allowed more effective implementation of activities to address the needs of the Internally Displaced Persons.

However, the UNHCR report says, freedom of movement remains the overriding issue with nearly 280,000 IDPs confined within the camps, restricting their ability to access employment, attend regular schools, visit family and friends, and ultimately choose their place of residence.

To date, some 4,300 IDPs, mostly elderly, have been released and the government has announced that another 9,000 have been cleared for release. Read more ...