IOM this week took delivery of over 75,000 corrugated galvanized
iron (CGI) sheets donated by India to Sri Lanka to provide roofing
for some 6,200 displaced families returning to their home areas in
the north.

At the request of the Ministry of Economic Development, IOM will
move the CGI sheets in 29 containers from the Port of Colombo to
the Divisional Secretariats in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Jaffna,
Mannar and Vavuniya for final distribution.

The 795-tonne consignment is the third Indian aid shipment
handled by IOM over the last month. The first contained 48,000 CGI
sheets for 4,000 families and the second 37,000 CGI sheets for over
3,000 families.

The Indian-donated sheets will be distributed by the local
authorities. Families who have returned to find their houses
destroyed during the conflict will each receive 12 sheets to
assemble an immediate shelter.

Over the past year IOM has helped more than 225,000 displaced
people to return to their home areas in the north from displacement
camps and host families. Many are still desperately in need of
decent housing.

IOM has already constructed 4,640 transitional shelters using
timber frames and CGI sheets and is continuing to build more in a
race against time as the monsoon season approaches.

"Despite the success of moving people back to their home areas,
there are still significant needs to be addressed in those areas,
particularly in terms of providing decent shelter for returnees.
India's generous donation is fulfilling an important role in
addressing those needs," says IOM Sri Lanka Chief of Mission
Richard Danziger.

For further information, please contact:

Lorena Lando

IOM Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 (0) 115325300

E-mail: "mailto:llando@iom.int">llando@iom.int