IASC Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team
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Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka IASC SITUATION REPORT # 128 JAFFNA, KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITIVU, MANNAR, VAVUNIYA, TRINCOMALEE, BATTICALOA and AMPARA DISTRICTS 22-29 May 2008 IDP situation as reported this week by GAs Location Number of Families Number of Individuals Jaffna displaced before Dec 2005 23,771 83,480 displaced after Jan 2006 6,725 23,656 Kilinochchi 13,674 52,371 Mullaitivu 10,271 33,271 Vavuniya 3,643 12,927 Mannar 6,800 25,295 Trincomalee 1,772 5,971 Batticaloa 5,038 18,664 Ampara 1,396 5,188 JAFFNA DISTRICT Situation update • The situation has been volatile with sporadic artillery fire towards the FDL throughout the week. Early on 29 May LTTE attacked a naval camp in the islet of Chirathivu near Jaffna town. Six civilians were killed and more than a dozen injured when their houses were hit during the exchanges. SLF and LTTE casualties have been reported but numbers are unconfirmed. • From 23-25 May, the Sri Lanka Forces together with the Jaffna District Secretariat, Police and the Jaffna Traders Association organized a carnival for the inhabitants of Jaffna at the Duraiappah Stadium. There were a number of exhibits and attractions and civilians were provided with transport facilities from the Islands, Thenmaradchchi, Vadamaradchchi and Valikamam. • More stringent security procedures have been imposed since the heavy confrontation at Muhamalai on 23 April. • A number of killings and abductions have been reported by the press and other local sources during the reporting period. • A large cordon and search operation followed a grenade attack at a sentry point on the Temple Road/Hospital Road junction on 26 May. No one was injured in the attack which occurred in an area where a number of UN Agencies and INGOs have their offices. • The Deputy High Commissioner of the Australian High Commission and the Deputy Ambassador of the Norwegian Embassy visited Jaffna from 27-28 May. Their visit included meetings with the GA, UN Agencies and INGO as well as trips to meet IDPs residing in Temporary Accommodation Centers and Welfare Centers. • At the Food Sector Coordination Meeting on 27 May, WFP reported that they will be including 60,000 economically vulnerable individuals who are no longer eligible for food assistance provided by the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services. This vulnerable group had been receiving food since the early 1990s and remains vulnerable due to problems in accessing livelihoods, in particular fishing and farming, following the imposition of high security zones or security restrictions. WFP is revising criteria so the most vulnerable can be added to the vulnerable group feeding programme which covers those similarly affected by the most recent conflict which began in 2006. • Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda arrived in Jaffna on 26 May to look into issues affecting the Jaffna population. • Aerolanka flights to Colombo have been suspended since 24 May but will resume from 30 May. Mobile phone coverage has been intermittent over the reporting period. 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.hpsl.lk|http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka IASC Displacement/Returns • Following the recent return of 61 families to Allaipidi, Velanai DS Division sea access to their traditional fishing area on the eastern side of the island, remains off limits. The authorities have, however allow the community to fish on the western side of the island. Sector Developments/Gaps • De-mining agencies indicated that if de-mining activities do not start soon in identified minefields , they may have to leave the District,. De mining in released areas is close to completion. • Monthly Food, Food Aid, Nutrition coordination meeting was held on 27th April. DRC announced start up of distribution of supplementary food items to Samurthi beneficiaries in the islands as well as to families, who have recently returned to Allaipidi, Velanai DS Division. The Samuthi beneficiaries are considered particular vulnerability as allowances for food have not increased over the past 10 years despite general inflation and increases in food prices. • The Jaffna RDHS Nutrition Rehabilitation Program (NRP) sponsored by UNICEF has reached the one year mile stone and has seen 1102 children admitted to the program, who were categorized as severely undernourished or -3SD below the average for height and weight based on WHO standards. Since January of 2008, there has been a steady increase in the number of new admissions to the program. The largest increase is in children 24 months to 59 months. Due to a shortage of ready -to- use therapeutic food within Jaffna , there are approximately 200 children on a waiting list. While waiting, these children are receiving high energy biscuits (HEB). Another 14,828 children were categorized as moderately undernourished (-2 SD) and were provided with HEB. HEB supplies are running low due to transport issues. KILINOCHCHI & MULLAITIVU DISTRICTS & Manthai West (located in Mannar district but covered by Kilinochchi district) Situation update • The deteriorating security situation is impacting general movements/ transportation in the district. • Schools in the Vanni suspended classroom activities on 26 May in protest over the claymore and aerial attacks that killed several students. Displacement/Returns • Due to ongoing military operations in the Manthai West and East areas, 814 families (3,230 persons) were registered as IDPs in Thunukkai AGA over the past ten days. In Manthai East division, 346 families are internally displaced. • As of 28 May, District Secretariat of Kilinochchi reported that 253 IDP families were registered as IDPs in Poonakary division while 42 families have settled in Kilinochchi town over the past week. 69 families out of 253 in Poonakary have been accommodated in the Kariyalainagapaduvan government school. The GA organized a one-week dry ration supply for 187 IDP families in Poonakary who are already registered with WFP. Sector Developments/Gaps • In order to coordinate assistance to those newly settled in Poonakary AGA division over the past week, the GA-Kilinochchi called a meeting with INGOs, UN and local authorities at Jeyapuram on 26 May. Committements were made to provide 250 emergency shelters, NFRI packs and to support the WASH sector. • On 24 May, 21 Lorries carrying fertilizer for the ‘Yala’ planting season entered the Vanni from Vavuniya while 19 empty Lorries passed through the Omanthai entry/ exit point on their return journey. The GA-Kilinochchi states that the outgoing number of Lorries has been reduced compared to the previous week. • GA-Kilinochchi reported on 25 May, that the fuel transportation request of 9 INGOs working in the Vanni was approved by the Security Forces HQ. The approved quantity is half of the requested 11,270 liters of diesel, 3,200 liters of petrol and 310 liters of kerosene. The fuel quota of the UN for the month of May has not yet been approved for transportation into the Vanni. • UNICEF-Kilinochchi with the support of the Colombo office organized a half-day workshop on’ Watsan Contingency Planning’ for organizations working in the watsan cluster on 28 May in Kilinochchi. Several INGOs, NGOs, UN and Government departments took part in this initiative. 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.hpsl.lk|http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka IASC MANNAR & VAVUNIYA DISTRICTS Situation update • The general situation across Vavuniya and Mannar District remains volatile, with heightened tension amongst the general population. Security forces remain on increased alert levels throughout the District and regularly conduct cordon and search operations. Displacement/Returns • During the reporting period, three families (10 individuals) arrived in Mannar by sea from LTTE-held areas, all of whom have been accommodated at the Kalimoddai IDP site. The total displaced population at Kalimoddai is now 129 families (290 individuals). This includes four families (12 persons) who returned from India. • UNHCR – Mannar reported that 22 families (84 IDPs) left Nanattan for India. • IDPs in Manthai West have been moving towards the northern parts of the division (to Paliyaru WC and Ganesapuram WC), while some left Mannar District fleeing towards Kilinochchi. Sector Developments/Gaps • Restrictive procedures at the Madawachchiya and checkpoints along the A14 road, including Uylankulam, Kaddaiadampan and more recently, the Thiruketheeswaram checkpoint, continue to cause serious problems with the supply of essential items, resulting in price increases, fuel shortages and restrictions on construction materials. • Displaced children accommodated at the Kalimoddai site are attending school in the nearby village of Pariarikandal, where not all subjects are reportedly covered and there are no possibilities for private classes. • Delays in distributing dry rations continue in Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Pre-April 2006 IDPs at the Pesalai Welfare Center in Mannar have not received dry rations since March 2008. • On 20 May, an SGBV awareness program held at the relocation site of Santhipuram in Mannar Island highlighted increased drug and alcohol use as a concern. TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT Situation update • On 26 May, fisherman in Muttur held a demonstration to protest fishing restrictions in the area and handed over a letter to the DS office requesting the relaxation of the restrictions. Displacement/Returns • No displacements or returns took place. Sector Developments/Gaps • The T/Kajamuga Vidyalayam School in Ralkuly was closed during the 1st week of May as parents kept their children home to protest the shortage of teachers (the school currently has only 2 teachers). After returns to Ralkully took place the numbers of students increased from 65 to about 94 students.