Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA JAFFNA, KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITIVU, MANNAR, VAVUNIYA and TRINCOMALEE DISTRICTS Report # 6 | 08 – 14 August 2009 Displacement after October 2008 - IDP situation as reported by GAs as of 14 August IDPs 268,005 persons, who are currently accommodated in camps During the period 1 April 2008 and hospitals. to 10 August 2009 Vavuniya Camps: 246,1711 Mannar Camps: 1,4532 265,302 people are accommodated in temporary camps. Jaffna Camps: 10,8613 Trincomalee Camps: 6,8174 2,7035 IDPs (injured and care givers) are in hospitals in various Hospitals: districts6 as of 29 July 2009. RELEASES 6,237 people have been released from temporary camps into Vavuniya Camps: 5,998 host families and elders’ homes as of 10 August 2009. The Mannar Camps: 17 majority of these people are elders, people with learning Jaffna Camps: 222 disabilities and other vulnerable groups. 1 Source: Government Agent Vavuniya 2 Source: Government Agent Mannar. 3 Source: Government Agent Jaffna 4 Source: Government Agent Trincomalee 5 Source: Ministry of Health 6 This includes GH Vavuniya, BH Cheddikulam, BH Poovarasankulum, Pampainmadu Hospital, DGH Mannar, BH Kantale, BH Padaviya, GH Polonnaruwa, TH Kurunagala 1 Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA I. Situation Overview & highlights TRINCOMALEE • On 3 August, the Muttur District Secretariat released a phased resettlement plan for all remaining people displaced in 2006/07 in Batticaloa District, who are returning to Trincomalee. It is expected that 429 will have been resettled by 15 September. VAVUNIYA • All zones in Menik Farm were hit by flash floods caused by heavy rains and strong winds, which commenced on 14 August. On 16 August, camp authorities confirmed that Zone 4 was the most seriously affected. Tents in 16 out of 37 blocks were damaged or destroyed, leaving 17,539 individuals of the total population of 36,785 in Zone 4 without shelter. Conditions on the ground were made even worse by the overflow of liquid waste and excrement from damaged sewage pipes. IDPs have been advised to seek shelter in the Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) instead of trying to take down and move their tents elsewhere. Camp officials state that IDPs will be relocated to public spaces, such as schools, only as a last resort. Reports indicate that the floodwater is receding, leaving behind stagnant pools contaminated with sewage. Humanitarian agencies are preparing to decommission some latrines and drain the stagnant water. • The provision of food to Menik Farm is a challenge, given the prevailing weather conditions. On 14 August, the first day of rain, IDPs in some flood-affected zones received only biscuits and water. A few IDPs have resumed cooking on their own and some of them are trying to dry out soaked rice and grains in the sun before the next rains. There are concerns about how to access the entire camp population with 3 meals a day. • The Shelter Cluster will carry out a rapid assessment of flood damage to the camp’s infrastructure on 15 August. The Food Cluster will undertake a similar exercise on 17 August. Assessment results will be shared with humanitarian partners in the coming days. FUNDING • On 8 August, the Government of India donated 600 MT of relief items to WFP and UNHCR to assist Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the north and east, particularly those returning home. The consignment included plastic mats, jerry cans, clothing, footwear and packets of spices. • On 13 August, the Government of Malaysia donated a sum of US$100,000 to the Government of Sri Lanka for the welfare of IDPs in the north and east. 2 Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA II. Cluster Overview & highlights SHELTER / NFI / CAMP MANAGEMENT Vavuniya • Analyses by the Shelter and WASH Clusters have indicated a very limited range of options to respond to emergencies during the rainy season, while IDPs remain restricted to the camps. There may be a significant gap in agency capacities to deal with a worst-case scenario of serious destruction to IDP shelters and camp facilities as a result of cyclonic weather conditions. These concerns were shared with the SLA and the GA so that other options, such as accelerated resettlement, may be explored. Government authorities at Menik Farm have suggested that the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to the Mannar and Jaffna districts maybe accelerated in response to the worsening weather conditions. Camp officials are currently identifying and registering families to be returned to their homes in the above mentioned districts • At a 13 August meeting with Shelter Cluster representatives, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stated that it plans to assess the risk of floods in the Sumathipuram site with a view to relocating the camp to an alternative site if necessary and requested a technical meeting with UNHCR on 18 August to discuss strategies to reduce the risk of damage to camp infrastructure by strong winds and heavy rains during the monsoon season. WASH inputs are also being sought. • At a 13 August meeting with a team from the Shelter Cluster, the Government Agent endorsed a proposal to train IDPs and hand over the maintenance of Menik Farm shelters to the camp’s inhabitants as soon as possible. Humanitarian agencies will be requested to provide shelter sheeting and tools as well as support capacity building. Also, the Shelter Cluster is seeking to systematise maintenance in Menik Farm and commence maintenance chores in the smaller sites. • The SLA also indicated its intention to continue to vacate IDP sites on school premises by identifying and developing five small sites, each to hold around 5,000 IDPs. The new camps may also be used to ease congestion in the existing sites, thus helping to deal with the impact of adverse weather conditions. • Some shelters in Zone 7, Menik Farm, are leaking due to vandalism by unknown persons and damage caused by heavy winds. • Shelter agencies have started surface drainage work in Zone 2, Menik Farm, and are preparing to undertake work in the other sites. There are concerns about completing the work before the rains set in. HEALTH (AND NUTRITION) • The Ministry of Health (MoH) has obtained Cabinet approval to bring Cheddikulam, in Vavuniya District, under its direct management as a separate division. This decision was taken to strengthen healthcare services in all IDP sites in the area, including Menik Farm. • In Trincomalee, the health status at the Pulmoddai IDP sites remained stable. No new cases of chicken pox or viral hepatitis were reported. However cases of respiratory tract infections are still being reported. MINE ACTION • Between 1 January and 10 August, approximately 55km2 of land was cleared in the north and east. This includes Battle Area Clearance (BAC – a quick visual method of clearance) and minefield clearance using manual and mechanical methods. Approximately a further 11km2 of area is currently under clearance. • In Jaffna, 1 deminer was injured while engaged in clearing the Thamputhoddam minefield in the Chavakachcheri D.S. Division on 1 August. A second deminer was injured on the same site on 2 August. In Batticaloa on 6 August, 1 deminer was injured on the job at the Kajuwatte North site, 3 Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA Koravilpattu D.S. Division. The accidents are under investigation EDUCATION • In Vavuniya on 11 August, 1,190 students among the district’s IDP population commenced their General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) examinations. Humanitarian agencies are providing support to register students, transport both candidates and invigilators to examination centres, provide stationery items and ensure that all students receive breakfast prior to sitting for their papers. 4 Joint Humanitarian Update NORTH EAST | SRI LANKA Jaffna District Sector Organization Location Activity Protection DRC Chavakachcheri Provided special nutritional liquid food for D.S. Division vulnerable IDPs at PRI B Kaithady. Mine Action UNICEF with Jaffna D.S. Division Supported the submission of a mine/UXO Sarvodaya removal request to the District Mine Action Office (DMAO) from Colombothurai where a road closed by the military for a long time was opened recently. UNICEF with Jaffna D.S. Division Supported 03 MRE programmes in Sarvodaya Colombothurai for 106 community members on mine/UXO risks and reporting to the authorities about suspicious objects. Child SCiSL Sandilipay, Arranged awareness programmes on child Protection Chankanai and rights for children and parents at Savatkaddu, Tellipalai D.S. Alaveddy south and Tholpuram West. Divisions Jaffna D.S. Arranged child protection policy training Division arranged for 25 partner staff. Sandilipay D.S. Arranged training on Child Rights Convention Division for 30 members of Village Level Child Protection Committee in Pandatharippu. SCiSL with Chankanai D.S. Reunited 2 male children with their families. Department of Child Division Probation, Sarvodaya SCiSL with Sandilipay D.S. Reunited 4 male children with their families. Department of Child Division Probation, SOND SCiSL with Kopay D.S. Reunited 4 male children with their families. Department of Child Division Probation, Shanthiham FORUT Chavakachcheri Follow-up session on guided group activities for D.S. Division 39 GCE O/L and A/L students at Kodikamam Ramavil. World Vision Kopay, Uduvil, Catch-up classes and recreational activities are Chavakachcheri being carried out daily at the Child Well-being & Velanai DS Centres at Poiddy, Thidatpulam, Sarasalai Divisions South and Allaipiddy villages. An average of 520 children benefited daily. Conducted a one-day training programme on Non Violent Communication for 15 child protection mobilizers. ASH UNICEF Chavakachcheri Provided special toilets for use of disabled D.S. Division persons. Completed construction of 4 emergency latrines being used by IDPs in PRI A and Kodikamam IDP sites. UNICEF Chavakachcheri Provided 2 taps to the PRI A and Kodikamam D.S.