Welcoming the announced closure of Menik Farm camp the United Nations has stated that they remained concerned for the last remaining families who cannot return to their homes.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released a statement today with Sri Lanka co-ordinator Subinay Nandy saying,

“there are still some people who are unable to return to their homes and a solution urgently needs to be found”.

The statement particularly highlighted the case of the 110 families being resettled in Keppapulavu who are unable to return to their homes and appealed for international intervention earlier this week.

Nandy went on to say in the statement,

“While these last residents have not been able to return to their former land the Government is providing them with land in another area. The Government is looking for solutions but it is important that the displaced people should be able to make an informed and voluntary decision about their future including being part of the planning and management of their resettlement.”

“But there are still many people living with friends and relatives particularly in Jaffna and Vavuniya, or living in welfare centres. Some of these people have been displaced for years and they also need a lasting solution.”

“Allowing people to settle anywhere in the country and resolving legal ownership of land for those who have resettled  away from their original homes is a key part of the reconciliation process.”  

See the full statement here.