Oct 18, Colombo: The United States Government has recently awarded over $3million to three organizations supporting resettling communities in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts in Sri Lanka's Northern Province, U.S. Embassy in Colombo said in a press release.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance has awarded funding to three NGOs -ZOA Refugee Care, Sewalanka, and Practical Action - to provide the basic needs for the resettled IDPs.

While welcoming Sri Lankan government's work to quickly resettle nearly 280,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) following the three-decade long conflict I May 2009, the Embassy said it remains concerned about the rushed resettlement of the final IDPs to close the Menik Farm camp.

The Embassy in its statement noted that many of the most vulnerable families of the war-affected population in the North have been placed on land hastily cleared without adequate shelter, water and sanitation, or provisions to continue their livelihoods while many long term IDPs remain unable to return home or access basic services from the government.

The support will provide help to nearly 50,000 IDPs with basic services such as adequate shelter, access to potable water and proper sanitation, and food security, the U.S. Embassy said.

According to the Embassy, the programs will support the resettled families to start generating needed income, and connect farmers and fishermen with markets.

"Through its assistance, the United States is helping resettled people move towards a better future and the U.S. Embassy looks forward to continuing to work with the Government of Sri Lanka provide the services and care Sri Lankans need," the Embassy said.