Palmera Projects
Livelihood assistance for returning IDP’s in northern Sri Lanka
Amount Donated: $48,671.10
Project commencement: February 2010
Partner Organisation: World Vision
Background
As of January 2010, 159,495 IDPs (Internally Displaced People) have been relocated to their places of origin. Returnees consist of both old IDPs (post 1996 and 2006 IDPs) and new IDPs and those that have been transferred to host families. People living with host families form the majority of returnees from the recent displacement camps (70%1). Despite receiving a small financial handout from the Sri Lanka government, displaced families are facing significant challenges upon return. Some having lost the primary income-earner in the family and are returning to an area with overwhelmed support services and extensive damage to support infrastructure owing to the 26 years of conflict. Returnees have cited tools for livelihoods as an immediate need and one, if not addressed, will mean they remain without jobs or incomes.
Project Description
Returnees urgently require livelihood materials to replace what was destroyed in the conflict and to start the rebuilding of their lives after the conflcit.
Under this program, 552 displaced/returning families will each receive a targetted livelihood pack, containing either agricultural inputs, small business inputs or skilled labor inputs. Due to the strained overall economy of this conflict-affected population, livelihood recovery of these returnee families is central to promote some form of return to normalcy. Consideration will be given to the permanency of these inputs particularly where beneficiaries are in host families and will require transferable livelihood inputs.
Description of Partner
World Vision is a worldwide community development organisation that provides short-term and long-term assistance to 100 million people worldwide. The aim of many of World Vision programs is to empower people to become self-reliant through a range of activities that may include health improvements, agricultural training, small business workshops and leadership development. World Vision works in more than 90 countries.