Helping people return home
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Refugee Return and Reintegration
Organisation for Elangai Refugee Rehabilitation (OfERR)
Thousands of people from Tamil, Sri Lanka fled to safety in India due to conflict. But decades later, many are still living in refugee camps as they’re unable to return home. We partner with local organisation OfERR to support refugees with documentation, shelter, livelihood training to equip them to return home.
helping people find their way home
Sri Lankan refugees in India still face a range of barriers to returning to their homeland and reintegrating successfully. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka means many returnees are struggling financially and could be at risk of irregular migration.
Misinformation, lack of information, legal documentation and confidence in the return process, means many refugees are apprehensive to return home.
The program overcomes these challenges by ensuring refugees are supported with documentation, semi-permanent shelters, livelihood training and putting children back in school. As well as adequate connection with services and income opportunities once they return to Sri Lanka.
This will help people to live in peace in Sri Lanka rather than making decisions towards irregular migration to Australia or other countries.
Act for Peace is committed to backing local organisation, Organisation for Elangai Refugee Rehabilitation, (OfERR) in India and Sri Lanka to work alongside refugee communities and address displacement together.
safety in exile
“It’s a holistic approach: building temporary shelter, and toilets, getting them electricity and livelihood support, putting children back in school, and getting their documents all in place. It’s a complete program, preparing them for the time they leave [India] but also when they return [to Sri Lanka] to take care of them.”
~ Florina Xavier, Regional Refugee Return & Reintegration Advisor
Organisation for Elangai Refugee Rehabilitation (offer)
OfERR works in Sri Lanka and India (Tamil Nadu) with the goal of preparing for the eventual return of Tamil refugees to their homeland in Sri Lanka, and assisting internally displaced persons affected by the civil war.
OfERR aims to empower and uplift vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Sri Lanka (and Tamil Nadu) by finding and enabling just and peaceful solutions, strengthening community dialogue, learning and participation, upholding human values and rendering humanitarian service.
Act for Peace gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
“Because of that help, me, my wife and our four children are well settled.
My eldest daughter is doing well and her dream is to become a doctor. The life we got and the people who helped from Australia – we are very grateful to all of them.”
~ Daniyel
Read his story >
sri lanka
