Food Assistance to Displaced People in Sri Lanka - World Food Programme 2010

The decades-long conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan government forces ended in May 2009. Approximately 300 000 civilians were displaced in the final stages of the conflict and most were placed in government-controlled camps. These internally displaced people (IDPs) are now returning to their home areas and are starting to rebuild their lives. However they continue to require humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs. In addition a number of IDPs remain in the camps where they are completely dependent upon assistance. CIDA's contribution is supporting the World Food Programme (WFP) to meet urgent food assistance needs thereby helping to mitigate and prevent hunger and assist in the protection of livelihoods. The principal activity is distribution of targeted food assistance to internally displaced people still in camps and to returnees. The specific needs of children and women are addressed through food for education and targeted mother-and-child nutrition activities.