UN funds for resettlement of IDPs

Spokesperson for Secretary General says US$ 1 million already disbursed:

Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric

The UN Peacebuilding Fund is likely to support resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the process of reconciliation by supporting home-grown initiatives. Already, US$ 1 million has been disbursed for the resettlement of IDPS in lands returned to the original owners, the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric, told journalists at the daily press briefing on July 31.

During the briefing, journalists questioned the spokesperson on the upcoming UNHRC sessions in Geneva and the proposed domestic inquiry to probe human rights abuses during the final phase of the island’s 27-year-old war.

According to a near-verbatim record of the daily briefing on July 31, journalists have questioned the spokesperson about the UN being committed to a national mechanism to probe and the possibility of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund extending financial assistance towards the same.

Relevant extracts of the verbatim record are below:

Q: I have some other questions, but yesterday I’d asked you about Sri Lanka and this memo that’s emerged where the UN appears to be working for a purely national mechanism. So I wanted to ask you more specifically, is Mr. Taranco and the Un Peacebuilding Fund considering funding a purely national accountability mechanism in Sri Lanka, contrary to what’s been said here and to the Human Rights Council report that’s due in September?

Spokesperson: I think what I can tell you is that the UN supports the Government and the people of Sri Lanka and their efforts to advance reconciliation and accountability as evidenced by commitments made by the Secretary General and during the Under-Secretary-General’s recent visit to Sri Lanka.

In this regard, we’re exploring provision of a broad package of technical and financial assistance at the request of the Chief Minister, also including the support of the Northern Province to bolster citizen confidence in the peace process. What is currently under discussion for support by the Peacebuilding Fund are initiatives to advance the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka by resettlement of internally displaced persons, national reconciliation, strengthening human rights mechanism, and ending impunity.

The UN support is always based on the basis of inclusive and participatory consultations with all key stakeholders. And my understanding is that already US$1 million have been dispersed to support resettlement and integration initiatives for the remaining internally displaced people in the North and East on land that’s been returned by the Government.

For the rest, we continue to consult with the Government of Sri Lanka and the Northern Provincial Council and all key stakeholders to finalize the UN support.

Q: Are you saying that the Peacebuilding Fund support is not for an accountability mechanism that would be entirely national, which is the one denounced by the Tamil group that you mentioned?

Spokesperson: You know, think what we are looking at is obviously implementing projects both with the support of the Government and the Northern Provincial Council. If I have more, I will share it with you.

Q: What about an international mechanism?

Spokesperson: I think, you know, whether it’s domestic or international, that will need to be determined. We are obviously awaiting the High Commissioner’s report and recommendations to make that decision.