UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State [email protected] http://hiu.state.gov Sri Lanka: One Week of Improved Freedom of Movement HUMANITARIAN INFORMATION UNIT Jaffna #MURUSIVIL RCTM • General Sarath Fonseka, who oversaw the final military Jana # # PALMYRA KODIKAMAM RAMAVIL Area of phase of the Sri Lankan Government's (GOSL) war Interest Nov 12 against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), resigns. COLOMBO • Senior Sri Lankan Presidential Adviser Basil Rajapaksa announces that beginning Dec. 1, the GOSL "will allow Palk complete freedom of movement" to the remaining Bay A35 Nov 21 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Sri Kilinochchi Lanka. Kilinochchi • UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the IDP camp Puthukkudiyiruppu decision by the government to increase freedom of Key areas of return Mullaittivu Nov 21 movement in the camps and urges the GOSL to work City to "improve the quality of the returns process." Province boundary District boundary Mullaitivu INDIAN A9 Road NORTHERN A34 • General Fonseka, who has been critical of the GOSL's OCEAN handling of the IDP situation, formally announces his A32 Nov 29 candidacy for President in opposition to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Elections are slated for Jan. 26. Mannar # • On the first day of the increased freedom of movement #SAHANAGAMA I & II Gulf Mannar A9 program, 9,300 IDPs temporarily leave camps in the # Dec 1 north. GOSL transportation reported to be insufficient. of ILLUPPAIKULAM WELFARE CENTER Mannar Anuradhapura ###SIRUKANDAL A14 JEEVODAYAM KALIMODDAI Vavuniya • On the second day, only 6,186 IDPs depart camps. A30 UNHCR reports that many IDPs have left their # NORTH Trincomalee ##MENIK FARM AREA Dec 2 belongings at the camp, indicating their intent to ### return to the camps. # CENTRAL ## VEERAPURAM #SUMATHIPURAM TRANSIT SITE EASTERN THARMAPURAM SITE 0 10 20 Miles Trincomalee • UNHCR reports that although inconsistencies and bureaucratic obstacles needed to be corrected, they Dec 4 Sri Lankan IDP Situation IDPs Returned to Area of Origin Number of IDPs Utilizing Freedom of welcomed the freedom of movement process. (Jul 10 - Dec 7) (as of Nov 30) Movement Period (Dec 1 - Dec 7) 300,000 69,317 25,000 IDPs in Camps 60,000 20,000 200,000 15,000 • One week into the freedom of movement process, the 40,000 FOM Period (GoSL) GOSL reports that 22,443 IDPs have left camp facilities, IDPs Released to Host Families 20,568 10,000 Cumulative Number Dec 7 of those 9,778 have already returned to the camps. 100,000 20,000 IDPs Returned to Place of Origin 5,184 6,924 7,108 7,675 5,000 0 0 0 Jana Mannar 8/9/09 9/8/09 Mullaitivu Vavuniya 12/5/09 12/6/09 12/7/09 7/10/09 10/8/09 11/7/09 12/7/09 Kilinochchi Trincomalee 12/1/09 12/2/09 12/3/09 12/4/09 UNCLASSIFIED Sources: USG, UNOCHA, UNHCR, Gov’t of Sri Lanka, Guardian (UK), Voice of America, Times of London December 9, 2009 - U99 8-03 STATE (HIU).