Introduction

The situation in the state continued to be tranquil and the environment for undertaking of rehabilitation work continued to be conducive. It is to be noted that the government of Tamil Nadu has also taken active steps to play the role of facilitator in the process of providing rehabilitation assistance to Refugees and a small but increasing number of organizations are now becoming more and more involved in assisting refugees to rebuild their lives. However the period April 2007 to March 2008 witnessed a further escalation of the war in the north and east of Sri Lanka. This has resulted in refugees continuing to flow into Tamil Nadu even while crossing the sea has become increasingly dangerous and risky.

OfERR continues to lobby and advocate improving the political climate in order to increase the social and economic status of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu. OfERR continues to work in coordination with the government of Tamil Nadu and other NGO’s in facilitating a more coordinated and complete rehabilitation process for refugees. Several meeting have been held with politician and government officials aimed at improving the conditions in the camps. While regular coordination meetings continue with the main players such as JRS, CRS and the Multipurpose Social Service Societies, several new agencies visited OfERR intending to provide assistance to refugees in the state.

During this period several new agencies including the US state department, Don Bosco, Handicap International, Care India, Project Concern International, Aide et Action and Christian Children’s Fund visited OfERR in order to collect information and to consider assistance to refugees based on the needs in the camps. 

OfERR has been making interventions to build the capacity of the beneficiaries firstly by stabilising them emotionally through the counselling programme and then by improving their leadership and communication skills to enable them to articulate and advocate more effectively. In parallel to that, OfERR has sought to increase the advocacy skills of the beneficiaries through special training workshops and regular meetings to share information on conflict transformation and developments concerning the civil and legal rights of the refugees in India. OfERR has continually been advocating the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to concerned stakeholders and in particular has developed a good working relationship with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Chennai. Good progress has been made on all the objectives.

Narrative Report April 2007 - March 2008