Inter-Agency IASC Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka SITUATION REPORT # 132 JAFFNA, KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITIVU, MANNAR, VAVUNIYA, TRINCOMALEE, BATTICALOA and AMPARA DISTRICTS 19-26 June 2008 IDP situation as reported this week by GAs Location Number of Families Number of Individuals Jaffna displaced before Dec 2005 23,533 74,015 displaced after Jan 2006 6,258 21,192 Kilinochchi 14,202 54,376 Mullaitivu 13,784 48,276 Vavuniya 5,187 18,372 Mannar 6,578 24,077 Trincomalee 1,634 5,427 Batticaloa 4,848 18,171 Ampara 1,377 5,106 JAFFNA DISTRICT Situation update • The situation remained tense across the district, particularly in areas around the FDL. Heavy firing and shelling near the FDL is occurring now on a daily basis. • The curfew hours were revised back to 2100 to 0430 hours. From 6-22 June, the night time curfew was extended from 1900 – 0500 hours. • CDMA phone connections have not worked since 6 June. • On 20 June, World Refugee Day was observed by displaced persons residing in welfare centers in Sandilipay Division. Several hundred IDPs participated in a day of sport and games. Displacement/Returns • No major return movement has taken place since the return of 61 families to Allaipiddy in April, although a few (post 2006 displaced) families housed in Temporary Accommodation Centres have moved to host communities or places of origin. Sector Developments/Gaps • Following the 20 May attack on the Chiraththivu Navy camp, fishing in Jaffna coastal areas was barred for three weeks. Limited fishing is now permitted from 0630 – 1600 hours while the use of motorized boats remains prohibited and the fishing area is limited to one kilometre from the coast. 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 due to ongoing military operations and exchanges of mortar/ artillery shelling around the northern and southern FDL areas. SLAF bomber jets also flew regularly over Kilinochchi town and surroundings, although no bombings were reported. IASC CT Secretariat (UNOCHA) 202-204, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 - 11 - 4528689 Ext. 384 / Fax: +94 - 11 – 4528690 Email: [email protected] | Web site: http://www.h psl.lk | http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency IASC Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka Displacement/Returns • Displacement from Nedunkerny and Vavuniya North into Oddusuddan and Puthukkudiyiruppu AGA Divisions in Mullaitivu continues. Updated IDP statistics are awaited. Sector Developments/Gaps • UN agencies operating in the Vanni received approval to transport 1/3 of the June fuel quota (8,900 of the 30,000 liters requested) from SFHQ last week. • MPCS of Kilinochchi district reported on 25 June that the request to transport 12 clothing items into the Vanni (shirts, suits, t-shirts, poplin cloth, polyester cloth, jeans, cotton trousers and other general purpose items) was denied by SFHQ last week. • ZOA has sent relief teams to Oddusuddan areas in Mullaitivu district for distribution to persons newly displaced from Nedunkerny areas over the past two weeks. Nearly 300 IDP families received 2 week’s food rations from ZOA over the past two days. • On 26 June, A Joint Assessment, led by ZOA took place in Oddusuddan to identify NFRI needs among the displaced. • On 24 June, GA-Kilinochchi sent the approval letter for the construction of temporary shelters at six contingency sites in Kilinochchi to UNHCR and the Shelter Coordination Cell (SCC). The SCC is also working with the Mullaitivu GA as well on contingency sites for the district. • DRC transported 1,500 food relief packs from Vavuniya through the Omanthai entry/ exit point last week. • World Vision reported on 23 June that its Mulankavil field office in Poonakary division would be relocated to Akkarayan in Karachchi division due to security. They plan however, to keep at least two staff to oversee its ongoing water trucking programmes in the Manthai west areas. MANNAR & VAVUNIYA DISTRICTS Situation update • The general situation across Vavuniya and Mannar Districts remains volatile. The deteriorating security situation continues to result in tension amongst the general population. Security forces remain on high alert throughout the Districts and regularly conduct cordon and search operations. • The Uylankulam and Madhu Road Junction checkpoints at the FDL have been closed since September 2007 and March 2006 respectively. Restrictive procedures at Medawachchiya and at checkpoints on the A14 road, including Uylankulam, Kaddaiadampan and Thiruketheeswaram continue to constrain supply of essential items, resulting in price increases, fuel and construction material shortages. • CDMA phones have not been functioning in Mannar and Vavuniya since 20 June 2008. Displacement/Returns • Government authorities now report that heavy shelling from 4-6 June displaced 1,537 families (5,105 individuals) from the border villages of Vavuniya North further north and to Oddusuddan DS and Mullaitivu district. • UNHCR reports three families (7 individuals) arrived in Mannar from LTTE-controlled areas. All have been accommodated at the Kalimoddai IDP site. The total population at the Kalimoddai site is now 389 individuals. On 20 June, 22 individuals from Kalimoddai were allowed to leave the site to stay with friends / relatives in Vavuniya and Mannar, bringing the total number of persons released from the site to 35. • There are continued reports of people fleeing from Mannar to India. Sector Developments/Gaps • UNHCR reports wheat flour has been substituted for rice as a part of the four month dry food ration distribution package for IDPs of Musali in Nanattan. • UNHCR reports land preparation is in progress at the Thampanaikulam relocation site in Mannar for the remaining 26 families in Jeevothayam WC (Nanattan). SewaLanka will be assisting IDPs in future income generation activities at Thampanaikkulam. IASC CT Secretariat (UNOCHA) 202-204, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 - 11 - 4528689 Ext. 384 / Fax: +94 - 11 – 4528690 Email: [email protected] | Web site: http://www.h psl.lk | http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency IASC Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT Situation update • The security situation in Trincomalee District remains relatively stable. Displacement/Returns • On 20 June, 36 families returned to Paddalipuram. ICRC provided plastic sheeting and hygiene packs to the returnees. IOM conducted an assessment and finalized the list of 26 beneficiaries for the core shelters and ten partly damaged shelters to be repaired by OfERR. Sector Developments/Gaps • Returnees are occupying school buildings at Sinnakulam in Pallikkudiyiruppu GN. Classes are held outdoors. UNICEF has provided plastic sheeting for flooring and is following up on longer term solutions. • On 23 June, several organizations including UMCOR, Oxfam, UNDP, UNHCR, OCHA, Solidar Qips and PIN conducted a joint Assessment in Pallikkudiyiruppu and Paddalipuram GN divisions to identify livelihood needs of newly arrived families. BATTICALOA DISTRICT Situation update • The SCOPP mission comprising its Secretary General and Director of Policy was in the district on 24 June to discuss the current situation with govt. officials, civil society and humanitarian actors. The mission was coordinated by CHA. • On 25 June, the Swiss Ambassador and officials from the Swiss Development Cooperation visited the district and held meetings with the Mayor, other government authorities and humanitarian actors. The group also visited shelter project sites. • On 26 June, a meeting was chaired by the Hon. Mayor at which municipal council members and a few humanitarian actors were present. The meeting focused on infrastructure development and livelihood projects in the Batticaloa Municipality area, particularly those funded by the USAID Municipal Council market building project. Requests /proposals were put forward to humanitarian actors for funding for further consideration. Displacement/Returns • As of 24 June, Government statistics indicated 4,848 families (18,171 individuals) as displaced within the district. Sector Developments/Gaps • The Joint Monitoring Initiative of the IDP Technical Working Group at 21 IDP locations is complete and results were shared on 24 June for follow up. AMPARA DISTRICT Situation update • The Secretary General of SCOPP held a meeting with civil society, UN and INGOs in the district on 25 June. Displacement/Returns • UNHCR reports that displacement trend is stable at 5,106 persons (1,377 families) currently displaced in Ampara District. Sector Developments/Gaps • IOM’s Camp Care and Maintenance Program is schedule to be completed at the end June 2008. IOM handed over camp care and maintenance activities to GA Ampara on 23 June. Gaps are to be covered through existing government structures, such as the Municipal Council and RDHS. • At present 624 IDP families are living in 42 Tsunami IDP camps in Ampara district. All families are enlisted in a permanent housing scheme, which is under construction. Until the completion of these housing schemes, these IDP families will continue to reside in camp settings. • SCiSL donated Rs. 400,000 each to four Sinhala and Tamil middle schools in the Ampara and Akkaraipattu Education Zones for the establishment of a Child Friendly School System (CFSS) benefiting 848 students. * Manthai West