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IASC Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team

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IASC Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team IASC Colombo Sri Lanka SITUATION REPORT # 155 JAFFNA, KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITHIVU, MANNAR, VAVUNIYA, TRINCOMALEE and BATTICALOA DISTRICTS 27 November – 04 December 2008 IDP situation as reported this week by GAs Displacement after April 2006 Location Number of Families Number of Individuals Jaffna 6,010 20,205 Kilinochchi TBC TBC Mullaitivu TBC TBC Vavuniya 3,229 10,805 Mannar 2,938 9,087 Trincomalee 1,389 4,647 Batticaloa 2,274 8,543 Ampara 1,131 4,138 JAFFNA DISTRICT Situation update x The security situation remained tense across the District. Artillery shelling continues. x Several costal villages and areas near the lagoon were flooded and several thousand people displaced from their homes and moved to schools, common building and friends’ / relatives’ homes. Rains slowed and flood waters receded at the end of week and most of those displaced were able returned to their homes. Currently, some families from lowland area remain in temporary camps. The Government, support by UN and NGO quickly responded to the flood emergency, with the situation now normalizing. x Paddy fields and agricultural plots were flooded and large amounts of high land crops and fruit bearing trees were also destroyed. Thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed. The electricity supply was not functioning for three days but has now been restored. Telephone lines were out for several days. The government, supported by the humanitarian community is addressing water and sanitation issues as well as providing assistance to vulnerable persons. x The prevailing bad weather intermittently interrupted mobile phone and internet coverage for most UN agencies. The Peninsula has limited access to land phone lines and internet services. Displacement/Returns x On 30 November, the Disaster Management Unit - Jaffna reported that 93,404 families (321,138 persons) were affected by floods and 25,862 families (94,965 persons) had move to 336 camps. Most of these camps have now been closed, and the remaining displaced expected to be able to return to their homes soon. x Additional IDPs from the Vanni arrived in Jaffna district, increasing the total number of arrivals to 132 persons. IDP are being accommodated in the old court house. Sector Developments/Gaps x Since the capture of Pooneryn, the Government has relaxed restrictions on fishing distances and times. x UN agencies / INGOs and NGOs are in the process of distributing NFRIs packages to 9,000 most vulnerable families affected by the floods. x RDHS will give priority to cleaning wells at GCE O’ Level examination centers this December. x Flooding affected minefield areas, which resulted in the temporally suspended of de-mining activities. 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 KILINOCHCHI & MULLAITHIVU DISTRICTS Situation update x The situation in the Vanni continues to be tense, with reports of aerial bombardment near the Ulavanoor IDP settlement in Kallaru, Kandawalai AGA division and shelling in Vaddakkachchi village and near Paranthan, Kilinochchi. Internally Displaced Persons x Nearly 120 IDP families who were taking shelter in the Ulavanoor area reportedly have fled after aerial bombardment on 29 November Sector Developments/Gaps x Heavy rain continues to impact IDPs and residents in the Vanni. GA-Kilinochchi reports that approximately 45,000 families were affected by floods, 23,000 families displaced, with 6,064 families temporarily accommodated in schools and welfare centers. GA Mullaitivu reports that 21,200 families from Puthukkudiyiruppu, Maritimepattu and Oddusuddan AGA divisions have been affected by the recent floods. An estimated 6,000 temporary shelters and 1,000 houses were destroyed or damaged in the Mullaitivu District. In the Kilinochchi District 13,382 temporary shelters were destroyed and 8,391 partially damaged during the floods. GA-Kilinochchi reports 2,888 houses destroyed and 2,385 partially damaged in Kilinochchi District due to the storm. x A large number of the IDPs sites have been affected by the heavy rains in both districts. The state of water and sanitation facilities and the increased possibility of disease in IDP sites as well as some residential area is of concern to the people living there. x On 01 December, 48 lorry loads of food (591.7 MT) and other materials donated by the Indian government were brought in a GA-Kilinochchi convoy from Vavuniya. Distribution is ongoing through MPCSs to the IDPs. x The UN Humanitarian Convoy planned for 01 December had to be postponed due to various delays including capacity constraints for clearing vehicles and security concerns. It went on 9 December. x Zonal Directors of Education in the Vanni are making arrangements for the island-wide GCE [O/L] examination that will commence on 08 December. A total of 4,263 candidates from Mullaitivu and 5,116 from Kilinochchi are due to sit for the exam. Due to ongoing confrontations in some areas, two centers from Vaddakachchi and Murasumoddai have been moved to new locations in Kilinochchi, while 4 centers have been moved in Mullaitivu. In order to accommodate 464 Vavuniya North students, 4 centers have been organized at Katchilaimadu village in Mullaitivu district by the department of education. x The flood victims, who had been sheltered in the schools where GCE [O/L] examination centers have been established, were asked to vacate before 05 December in order for examinations to commence. In Kilinochchi district, IDPs have vacated all 19 schools to be used as examination centers. In Mullaitivu, the Department of Education with the help of the District Secretariat is preparing to vacate IDPs from 7 schools before 05 December. MANNAR & VAVUNIYA DISTRICTS Situation update x The general situation in Vavuniya and Mannar District remains tense. Security forces remain on high alert across both districts, with regular cordon and search operations conducted. x The Omanthai entry / exit point was closed for civilian traffic during the reporting period. However, urgent patient transfers and humanitarian convoys are being facilitated by the ICRC. x Since 21 November, small numbers of people have started arriving from the Vanni to government controlled areas through Omanthai entry / exit point where they are registered and taken to a school and a community hall in the Manik Farm area. A total of 335 IDPs (138 families) are accommodated at these two locations, where assistance is being provided mainly by the Government. x GA Mannar reports that 6,975 families (29,916 individuals) and 900 acres of paddy land were affected due to the recent floods in Mannar. Displacement/Returns x 33 IDPs (15 families) accommodated at the Omanthai Maha Vidiyalaya are to be transferred to the Nellukkulam old welfare center. Sector Developments/Gaps 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 x Humanitarian Organizations are facing difficulty completing their projects before the end of this year, at least partially due to restriction on transportation of construction materials. For example, UNDP is waiting for approval to transport 11,000 bags of cement to Mannar needed to complete their shelter program by the end of the year. x UNICEF facilitated the Vavuniya WASH coordination meeting on 02 December. Discussions focused on newly arrived IDPs who are accommodated at Manik Farm. Immediate needs for the site include latrines, bathing facilities and redirection of rain water. The Government has indicated it will address the drainage issue. Discussion are ongoing discussions between the Government and humanitarian organizations on assistance support and protection concerns. x The WASH coordination meeting of 02 December highlighted issues at the Kallimodai and Sirukandal IDP camps including problems with irregular gully sucking activities, and a lack of screenings (privacy) for toilets in Kallimodai and the need for an additional seven latrines and a new water distribution network for Sirukandal camp. x The Mannar District Disaster Management Centre is waiting for clearance to transport 100 tarpaulins from UNICEF Vavuniya office to Mannar to assist flood-affected families in the area. x MOH Cheddikulam and Base Hospital -Cheddikulam made two mobile clinic visits to address health needs of the 335 displaced individuals in Menic Farm displaced from Vavuniya North. x FOSDOO, the NGO Consortium and UNICEF agreed to support displaced O/Level students sitting for the examination on 8 December. TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT Situation update x The security situation in the district was relatively stable, although security forces continue to conduct daily cordon and search operations, especially in Trincomalee town. x Trincomalee Dirstrict experienced minimum rain fall during the reporting week enabling the previous week’s flood-affected to recover. Ferry operations at Yanoya and Padavaikattu in Kuchchaveli DS Division, which were interrupted due to heavy rainfall last week, were fully functioning by 04 December. x On 02 December, the GA held a Progress Review Meeting for the DSs, ADA, UN agencies
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