Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

International Development written question – answered at on 18 May 2009.

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Photo of Keith Simpson Keith Simpson Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received of the nature of the screening process for Tamil people displaced by the conflict in the north of the country upon entering the camps established by the government of Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Michael Foster Michael Foster Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development

Security screening for civilians escaping the conflict zone initially takes place in an area of the Vanni to which no international humanitarian agencies have access. Secondary screening takes place at Omantai checkpoint where the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has only limited access to observe the screening process. There is no established security screening process in the IDP camps and there are reports of people being removed for questioning and detention. This lack of international observation continues to cause concern and the UK Government have repeatedly called for full access for international humanitarian agencies to assist and protect all displaced people on their journey to the camps.

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