Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team IASC Colombo Sri Lanka SITUATION REPORT # 138 JAFFNA, KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITIVU, MANNAR, VAVUNIYA, TRINCOMALEE, BATTICALOA and AMPARA DISTRICTS 31 July – 07 August 2008 IDP situation as reported this week by GAs Displacement after April 2006 Location Number of Families Number of Individuals Jaffna 6,129 20,736 Kilinochchi 27,562 112,019 Mullaitivu 8,917 31,080 Vavuniya 5,199 18,403 Mannar 2,696 8,504 Trincomalee 1,571 5,254 Batticaloa 4,493 16,965 Ampara 1,205 4,431 JAFFNA DISTRICT Situation update • The general security situation in Jaffna peninsula remained tense during the week, with daily shelling toward LTTE positions in Poonakary. In particular, areas close to the FDL remain volatile with growing tensions among the public. • Major roads continue to be frequently blocked due to military convoy movement. • The annual festival of the Nalllur Temple began with a flag raising ceremony on 6 Aug 2008. The festival will take place for 25 days culminating in the “water water cutting” ceremony on 28 Aug and the chariot festival on 29 August. Temple road near the temple will be closed for traffic during this period. • The curfew has been relaxed by one hour to facilitate festival access. The curfew for the coming 25 days will be from 2100 - 0400 hours. Displacement/ Returns • No movements were observed this week. • The government is making arrangements for the return of several hundred IDP families, following a high court decision to open the High Security Zone in Tellipallai DS in Valikamam North, formerly off limits to civilian movement. Details of the plan and level of preparation are awaited. Sector Developments/Gaps • UNHCR has provided 40 IDP families (162 individuals) displaced since 1990 from Valikamam North DS, with transitional shelters. KILINOCHCHI & MULLAITIVU DISTRICTS & Manthai West (located in Mannar district but covered by Kilinochchi district) Situation update • The general security situation in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts remains tense and unpredictable with ongoing military operations and exchange of mortar/ artillery shelling around the northern and southern FDL areas, including two claymore explosions and two air attacks inside the Vanni area. • The battles continue around Vellankulam in Kilinochchi and Oddankulam, Kalvilan area and around Mallavi in Mullaitivu district. Shelling close to K.K.Kulam, Jeyapuram has resulted in restricted movements. Displaced populations are moving north towards Akkarayan. • SLT phone lines outside of the Vanni have not been operational since 23 July, although telephone communication within the Vanni is still possible. • On 04 August, the Solidar INGO consortium resumed operations suspended on 28 July, following the forced removal of assets belonging to consortium member Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA). IASC CT Secretariat (UNOCHA) 202-204, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 - 11 - 4528689 Ext. 384 / Fax: +94 - 11 – 4528690 Email: ochasrilanka@un org | Web site: http://www hpsl lk | http://ochaonline un org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team IASC Colombo Sri Lanka • On 4 August, UN agencies operating in the Vanni region received MoD permission to transport 18,850 liters of diesel through the FDL into Vanni. Displacement/Returns • Following SLA advancements in Mulankavil areas, most of the population in Veravil, Kiranchi, Valaippadu, Jeyapuram, Pallavarayankaddu and Kariyalainagapaduvan in Poonakary AGA division have vacated their houses. The majority has displaced to Karachchi AGA division in Kilinochchi. As of 30 July, the total number of IDP families registered in Kilinochchi district was 25,908, of which nearly 12,000 were displaced during June and July. With continued displacement into Karachchi this figure is expected to increase. Sector Developments/Gaps • During a 05 Aug situation review meeting, GA- Kilinochchi requested support for a total of 12,000 temporary shelters, needed to address immediate needs of the newly displaced in Kilinochchi district. The GA reported that nearly 2,000 temporary shelters have been committed. • RDHS Mullaitivu reported on 05 August, gaps at District hospitals with the following drugs: Buvacaine injection, Beclate MDI, Asthalin MDI Syringe, Cloxacillin Syringe, Panadol capsules, Cephalexin capsules, Omeprazole tablets, Mebendazole, lint injection, penicillin injection, Ranitidine, Urine bag, IV • For its July allocation, the RDHS received 2,600 of its requested 14,000 liters of fuel for district health institutions. Reduced fuel availability is impacting the operation of generators and ambulance services in hospitals. MANNAR & VAVUNIYA DISTRICTS Situation update • The general situation in Vavuniya and Mannar District remains volatile, with persistent tension amongst the general population. • Security forces in the District remain on high alert, with cordon and search operations being conducted in both districts. Displacement/Returns • IDP statistics from the Office of the Government Agent Mannar (5th August 2008) – indicate no IDPs remain in Madhu and Manthai West, with people moving north into Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. • Small numbers of IDPs continue to arrive in Mannar by sea from LTTE controlled areas. New arrivals are being accommodated in the Sirukkandal IDP site. The population at the Sirukkandal IDP site now stands at 67 families (137 individuals), whereas 227 families (504 individuals) are accommodated in the Kallimoddai site. Sector Developments/Gaps • ZDE Vavuniya North reported that a total of 42 schools (covering 3,498 children) were displaced due to shelling towards Vavuniya North during the past two months. • With only one A/L examination center in Vavuniya North, students displaced in LTTE controlled areas are facing difficulties in sitting for the exam. At the request of ZDE Vavuniya North, the local NGO OFFER, provided 30 displaced students in Vavuniya North hot meals for 20 days. The students are sitting the A/L level examination at Katchilaimadhu Maha Vidiyalayam in Oddusuddan, Mullaitivu. • The Vavuniya Kacheri requested assistance from humanitarian organizations to repair shelters at the Ponthooddam Welfare Center. Most of the shelter roofs are leaking and repair is required prior to the start of the rainy season. TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT Displacement/Returns • On 01 August, 8 Tamil IDPs arrived by boat to Pulmoddai and were transferred to Mannar. The IDP had fled from Mullaithivu District. • On 02 August, 39 families (134 individuals) returned from the Kiliveddy IDP transit site to Neenakerney, Nalloor GN division, Muttur DS division. • The next return movement from Batticaloa is scheduled for 11 August to Paddalipuram (36 families) and Veeramanagar (25 families), Paddalipuram GN division Sector Developments/Gaps • On 4 August, the Sanitation Working Group met with the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) to agree on sanitation designs, share information on norms, guidelines and standards, and discuss other challenges. The main decisions of the meeting include: 1. a smaller group to meet and analyse information to ensure coherence with the existing legislation; 2. Investigation and monitoring cost should be covered by the organization due to limited capacity of local authorities 3. SLS 745 (draft standards on construction of septik tanks) and the EcoSan guidelines to be distributed for use. IASC CT Secretariat (UNOCHA) 202-204, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 - 11 - 4528689 Ext. 384 / Fax: +94 - 11 – 4528690 Email: ochasrilanka@un org | Web site: http://www hpsl lk | http://ochaonline un org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team IASC Colombo Sri Lanka • During the 5 August WASH Coordination Meeting, resettlement issues were discussed, including the need for water trucking in some resettlement areas due to the drought season and insufficient capacity to clean wells. • 6 August: the District Planning Secretariat organized the District Agriculture Productivity Conference (DAPC). The Conference was chaired by the GA, and attended by DS and agricultural department representatives, UN agencies and I/NGOs. The GA noted gaps in ongoing agricultural activities and highlighted the need for a database to support activities in the agricultural sector. • On 9 Aug, Lifeline radio is planning to distribute 1,041 radios to families in Killivedy, Paddiththidal and Manalchchenai IDP transit sites and 175 radios to families in Seruvila and Kinniya on 10 August. • UNICEF plans to conduct a WASH baseline survey in return areas of Eachchilampattai and Muttur East. • The monthly Health Coordination reported that the Department of Probation and Child Care (DPCC) with the support of health authorities will implement a nutrition programme to improve nutrition at children’s home. BATTICALOA DISTRICT Situation update • On 5 August, a claymore attack in Kiran left one soldier dead and three others injured. The incident disrupted a planned “Go & See” Visit scheduled for 6 August for IDPs to visit their places of origin in Vadamunai and Uthuchenai. A pre-return Inter-Agency assessment of the two areas was also cancelled for security reasons. On 7 August, movement to the area was reported to be normal. Displacement/Returns • The number of IDPs in the district has reduced to 16,965 individuals (4,493 families) according to government statistics of 25 July 2008. • The government announced that returns are scheduled to Trincomalee on 11 August and to Muruthanai on 12 August. Sector Developments/Gaps • OCHA completed