Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA
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Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA JAFFNA, KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITIVU, MANNAR, VAVUNIYA AND TRINCOMALEE DISTRICTS REPORT # 23 | 27 MARCH – 9 APRIL 2010 Displacement after April 2008 IDP situation as reported by the Government Agents as of 15 April IDPs During the period 1 April 2008 to 15 April 2010 1 82,531 people are accommodated in temporary camps. Vavuniya Camps: 78,946 Mannar Camps: 1852 Jaffna Camps: 3,4003 RELEASES & RETURNS 205,983 people have been released and returned in Vavuniya, Mannar, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Releases & Returns: Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. As of 15 April 2010 In place of origin: 112,957 With host families: 91,834 In institutions: 1,192 I. SITUATION OVERVIEW & HIGHLIGHTS Adult separatees and children associated with armed groups released • On 5 and 6 April, a total 1,158 separatees, almost all of whom had disabilities, were released. Some of the group chose to join their families in Menik Farm. Camp authorities ensured that the individuals’ names were included in their family cards to entitle them to food assistance. The rest of the group chose to return to their districts of origin. Accordingly, their families were notified and were present at the release centres, where they received temporary shelter, water and hot meals as they waited to receive their family members. Several protection actors were on hand at the release centres to advise the families on caring for the disabled individual and support services available in their home areas. Also, advice was provided on how to apply for Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards, which many of the released individuals lacked. IOM provided transport back to home areas. • On 6 April, 155 children associated with armed groups were released from the Poonthattam rehabilitation centre in Vavuniya District. With this release, the Poonthottam site was closed down. The move was based on a Court Order declaring that the children were victims of the conflict entitled to post-release security guarantees. National child protection authorities and agencies will provide vocational training and other support to foster the children’s reintegration into mainstream society. Resettlement process restarts after General Elections • IDP returns from Menik Farm and host families resumed on 16 April when 1,071 IDPs returned to Maritimepattu District Secretariat (DS) division, in Mullaitivu District. Local authorities are planning additional returns in the next two months to Oddusudan and Maritimepattu DS divisions (Mullaitivu District), Kandawalai and Karachchi DS divisions (Kilinochchi District), as well as to Vavuniya North DS division. 1 Source: Government Agent Vavuniya 2 Source: Government Agent Mannar 3 Source: Government Agent Jaffna 1 United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Sri Lanka | Joint Humanitarian Update | 2010 | Web site: http://www.hpsl.lk Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA Advanced notice of a scheduled return movement is assisting IDPs to prepare for the transition to their areas of origin. • In Mullaitivu District, around 20,000 push bicycles and motorbikes, as well as approximately 600 water pumps, abandoned during the final displacement will be distributed among returnee families. Fishing communities are also beginning to receive boats lost during the conflict. The office of the Northern Province Governor is coordinating both initiatives, through the respective Government Agents (GA). • In Mannar District, nearly 116 people have returned spontaneously from other districts, the majority going to Manthai West DS division. Also, 426 refugees have returned from India to Mannar District since January 2009. • In Mannar District, the residents of the five resettled villages in Madhu and northern Manthai West face various challenges. In Madhu DS division, access to health services is limited, as mobile clinics and ambulance services are not in place yet. The community relies on assistance from the security forces to travel to one of the major hospitals for medical emergencies. In northern Manthai West, mobile and emergency medical care are operating, but permanent health care services, such as hospitals, clinics and dispensaries, are still being re-established. Also, there are limited toilet facilities in these areas, especially in Madhu DS division. Local authorities have begun to collect information on shelter/WASH needs to plan a coordinated response. • Humanitarian demining operations have concentrated on residential areas, with a need for clearance in other areas. II. Sector Overviews & highlights Shelter / NFI In the Vanni return areas: • The Presidential Task Force on Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province (PTF) has authorized IOM and UNOPS to construct ‘semi-permanent transitional structures’ for returnees. The approved design specifies a 200 square foot shelter with a tin roof and two rooms separated by a partition. The external walls will be built mainly with cadjan with a solid foundation to enable upgrades. This option is key to ensuring rapid shelter assistance to returning families. • The Government of India has indicated it will distribute 400,000 bags of cement to the resettlement areas over the next six weeks. Each returnee family will receive eight cement bags for house repairs. Returnees will need information on proper storage and use of the cement as well as access to good quality sand. Shelter agencies are discussing these issues with the Government authorities. Discussions are also ongoing to ensure close coordination with partners carrying out permanent housing initiatives. • Between October 2009 and 8 April 2010, 19,655 returnee families received 24,269 NFI core kits, 19,373 hurricane lamps, 22,225 hygiene kits and 9,148 tool kits. More agencies are becoming involved in the provision of NFIs, with distribution ongoing for items, such as tool kits, ropes and plastic sheets. A backlog of 6,357 IDP families (approximately 63.5%) have received NFI items. In Vavuniya District / Menik Farm: • Following several days of rain, approximately 2,500 or 60% of the tents in Zone 2 have started to leak. To respond, agencies distributing polythene sheets and carrying out maintenance on nearly 700 shelters in Zone 3 and Site 6A. Partners are conducting general road maintenance to ensure that road and surface drainage on all sites/zones is functioning. • Agencies are waiting until the camp population stabilizes to replenish NFI stocks. In the meantime, IDPs continue to receive hygiene kits and baby-kits. 2 United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Sri Lanka | Joint Humanitarian Update | 2010 | Web site: http://www.hpsl.lk Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA WASH In the Vanni return areas: • WASH activities in resettled communities have been strengthened with Presidential Task Force approval for more projects. In Mannar District, ACTED will construct 190 permanent latrines, clean/rehabilitate 40 wells and carry out hygiene promotion interventions in resettled communities. • The Water Resources Board continues to clean and repair/construct wells with support from WASH partners. In Vavuniya District / Menik Farm: • In the first week of April, IDPs received an average 7.1 litres of water per person, short of the daily standard of 10 litres per person agreed among WASH partners4. An additional nine 6,000 litre bowsers will be required in May for water provision in line with the standard. • A further 356 toilets were decommissioned, bringing the total of decommissioned toilets across all zones and transit sites to 4,074. From 1 April, only one agency remains involved in toilet maintenance. • Government health workers and I/NGO personnel continued to receive Hygiene Promotion training to support activities in resettled communities. On 1 April, the second round of Public Hygiene and Safety Training (PHAST) training was completed for 30 participants drawn from the Regional Directorate of Health Services and I/NGOs. HEALTH & NUTRITION In the Vanni return areas: • In Kilinochchi District, returnees can access 24 hour medical services at the Kilinochchi and Mulankavil Hospitals. Hospitals at Pallai, Poonakary, Uruththirapuram and Veravil are providing daytime services. • In Mannar District, the Mannar, Thalaimannar and Pesalai Hospitals provide 24 hour services to resettled communities. Services at the Madhu and Adampan Hospitals are available during daytime hours. • In Mullaitivu District, the Mallavi Hospital provides 24 hour services to returnees in the district. The Mankulam, Oddusudan, Nattankandal and Thunukkai Hospitals are operational during daytime hours. • Health authorities and agencies are working to extend regular mobile health services to returnees in remote locations without functioning health facilities. The reopened Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices are also conducting field clinics, including for antenatal care and immunization services. Insufficient numbers of medical personnel remains a key challenge to re-establishing health services, including disease surveillance mechanisms. Health authorities are working to address gaps, including through the re-deployment of Public Health Inspectors currently working in Menik Farm to resettled communities. In Vavuniya District / Menik Farm: • Some patients with communicable diseases are reluctant to enter the Poovarasankulam isolation hospital, fearing that they will miss return movements to their places of origin.