Humanitarian Mine Clearance to Support Returning IDPs in Northern Sri Lanka 2010 - HALO Trust 2010

August 4 2010 - For over two decades a civil war raged in Sri Lanka between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Following the end of hostilities in May 2009 approximately 300 000 people were displaced from their homes and were moved to government-controlled camps and transit sites. The displaced people are returning to their home districts in the North of Sri Lanka. However as a result of the conflict northern Sri Lanka is highly contaminated with landmines unexploded ordnance (UXO) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). CIDA's contribution to the HALO Trust is supporting mine clearance activities in the Northern Province. The project is helping to reduce the vulnerability of up to 80 000 displaced people to accidents caused by mines and unexploded ordnance upon their return to their home areas.