A/HRC/10/13 page 19 67. The Representative had the opportunity to discuss the present situation of persons displaced inside the Vanni as a consequence of the ongoing military operations with a number of high-level interlocutors, including the Secretary of Defence and the Special Advisor to the President. He stressed the need to ensure humanitarian access and the provision of food, medicine and emergency shelter materials and expressed his concerns regarding the lack of freedom of movement for the displaced and the ensuing negative impact on and dangers for their security. 68. The Representative welcomed the opportunity to participate in these discussions and to continue his frank and constructive dialogue with the Government of Sri Lanka. He reiterates his commitment to work with all relevant actors seeking to improve protection and assistance to IDPs and to find durable solutions for them. This includes the immediate response to more than 100,000 new conflict-generated IDPs, and more than 200,000 total in the Vanni. In this regard, the Representative remains extremely concerned about the limited accessibility to the Vanni area granted to humanitarian actors. He urgently calls upon all parties to the conflict to scrupulously respect international humanitarian law in the course of ongoing military operations, including provisions on the conduct of hostilities, facilitation and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, respect for humanitarian personnel, and safe passage for civilians. 8. Timor-Leste 69. The Representative undertook a working visit to Timor-Leste from 6 to 12 December 2008. The Representative commends the Government for its commitment to and achievements in protecting and assisting IDPs - reflected in both the holistic approach to displacement embodied in the National Recovery Strategy and its success in voluntarily closing the majority of the camps established during the 2006 crisis. The Representative urges the Government to maintain displacement as a national priority in 2009, indicating that whether the returns are sufficiently supported to be sustainable, and whether solutions are found for those who are unable to return, will be important indicators of whether Timor-Leste will end the cycle of violence and displacement that have marked its history since 1975. 70. The Representative identified three primary challenges. First, to address the underlying causes of the violence and displacement, for which additional efforts are needed to support continuing dialogue and reconciliation; to redress prevailing impunity; and to resolve and prevent further land disputes by adoption of a land and property law. Second, the Representative encourages all actors now to expand their focus with activities to strengthen and stabilize communities of return. Finally, he notes that the approach to recovery packages - aimed at compensating those with damaged property to return to - has not addressed the needs of the most vulnerable, including those with no place of return. C. Public statements and correspondence with Governments 71. During the period covered by this report (May to December 2008), the Representative conveyed relevant allegations or provided technical advice to various Governments. The Representative also issued several public statements and press releases related to his country visits.