Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team IASC Colombo Sri Lanka SITUATION REPORT # 88 KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITIVU, VAVUNIYA, MANNAR, TRINCOMALEE, BATTICALOA & AMPARA DISTRICTS 16-23 August 2007 KILINOCHCHI & MULLAITIVU DISTRICTS Situation update • The general situation in Kilinochchi town has been calm while some shelling occurred in the Vanni during the week. • On 23 August, the United Nation Department of Safety and Security conducted a ‘Saving Lives Together’ training for INGOs based in the districts. Internally Displaced Persons • A meeting on the identification of contingency sites took place on 17 August in Kilinochchi. A total of 27 sites in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu were identified and responsibilities shared among the participants (UN and NGOs). Sector Response Shelter • By 21 August, CARE had completed the construction of 164 temporary shelters in the districts. • FORUT provided temporary shelter material to 25 IDP families settled in the districts. • As of 22 August, Solidar had completed the frame work of 5 temporary shelters in Paliaru, Manthai West (Mannar uncleared area). Health • FORUT with the support of the Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services (DPDHS) and Zonal Director of Education (ZDEs) conducted awareness programmes on health and nutrition to pre-school teachers in the districts and Vavuniya north areas. Water and Sanitation • UNICEF completed the construction of 30 temporary toilets at schools in Kilinochchi while the construction of 27 temporary toilets is ongoing for students being accommodated in temporary learning spaces. Livelihood • CARE on 18 August gave three conflict-affected fishers from Kandawalai AGA division fishing nets and other fishing equipment. • It has been decided during the Livelihood Forum held on 21 August at FORUT - in order to stimulate the consumption of locally produced rice (stored in important quantities) – that the Forum will request WFP to consider purchasing rice flour from the local market instead of wheat flour for its ongoing dry ration distribution in the Vanni where one Kg of rice flour is available for Rs. 40.00 while one Kg of wheat flour is available for Rs.60.00. • FORUT assisted 32 IDP families living in six FORUT project villages in the districts in income generating activities such as poultry keeping, ox rearing, high land crop cultivation and small business enterprising. Education • 13 UNICEF Temporary Learning Spaces are under construction in schools of Kilinochchi district where more displaced children are registered. 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.humanitarianinfo.org/srilanka/ | http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team IASC Colombo Sri Lanka Food • On 17 August, WFP was able to transport 70 MT of wheat flour from Vavuniya for its dry ration distribution. • On 17 August, Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (MPCSs) of Kilinochchi district transported 5 MT of sugar, 10 MT of wheat flour and 3.5 MT of pulses for general public consumption. Protection • UNICEF and local NGO White Pigeon continue with Mine Risk Education (MRE) activities across the districts for some 4,500 people. • Norwegian People Aid (NPA) destroyed 169 mines and 240 UXOs in the Kilinochchi and Mankulam areas last week. VAVUNIYA AND MANNAR DISTRICTS Situation update • The situation remains tense. Internally Displaced Persons • On 18 August, 13 Sri Lankan refugees arrived in Talaimannar from India. • The GA office reports that there are 2,542 families (9,293 persons) displaced in Mannar district and 2,517 families (8,682 persons) displaced in Vavuniya district as of 23 August. Sector response NFRI • From 12-17 August, Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCiSL) distributed NFRI packages to 641 families living in Periyamadu, Paliaru and Arthimoddai GN division in Manthai West. • UNHCR provided 49 NFRI packages to IDPs and Indian returnees in the districts after they registered with the local office. Water and Sanitation • FIRM completed the construction of 25 toilets in Malayaparuththikkulam in Vavuniya South for CARE International. • UNICEF and partner FORUT commenced the construction of four wells and 50 latrines for 75 IDP families at the Mannankulam School in Vavuniya North. • UNICEF and partner Rural Development Foundation (RDF) started the construction for four latrines for 131 families recently displaced to the Kalkathekama School from the Alughagama, Alugalla and Theevuwegama villages. • ZOA completed the construction of 17 toilets for vulnerable and long term IDP families living in Pannankaddikoddu GN division in Mannar. Education • On 17 August • Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) inaugurated a fully computerized English Academy center to develop the knowledge of English among students in Mannar district. • From 12-17 August, SCiSL distributed education kits to 296 displaced children living in Moonrampity GN division in Manthai West DS division. • On 21 August, ZOA and partner MARDAP conducted a skill development competition including essay, poem, song writing, general knowledge quizzes and drawing for seventy disabled students. • JRS is assisting 370 students with catch up education classes through 71 evening coaching centres located in rural villages of Mannar district. 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.humanitarianinfo.org/srilanka/ | http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team IASC Colombo Sri Lanka Protection • UNHCR reports that ten (10) additional home guards have being deployed at three Sinhalese villages where displacement and return recently took place. The clearing of forested areas is underway and a bunker (dirt wall) will be built on completion. • On 17 August, JRS opened a girl’s home for orphans and destitute girls at Valkaipattankandal in Nanaddan DS division in Mannar. • From 16-22 August, ZOA and partner FAMILIAN conducted counseling program for 167 children and 50 women in Konaiyankudiruppu, Pesalai, Keeri, Madhukarai, Thampanaikulam, Pannavettuvan and Madhukarai in Mannar. Health • ZOA and partner MARDA conducted health awareness programs for 119 disabled students in Tharmapuram, Shanthipuram, Thalvupadhu and Pesalai. Food • WFP was able to transport 0.169MT of rice and 3.12 MT of dhal to Mannar district and 7.89 MT of rice, 2.7 MT of dhal and 0.149 MT of sugar to Vavuniya district for its IDP dry ration distribution. • On 18 August, ZOA provided meals and a traveling allowance to the 13 Sri Lankan refugees who returned from India. Shelter • ZOA constructed six semi-permanent shelters for vulnerable and long term IDP families living in Palamunai East, Pattithoddam, Shanthipuram, and Pannankaddikoddu in Mannar and upgraded five shelters in Thampanaikulam, Vankalai and Kathankulam in Nanattan division. • On 17 August, JRS handed over 50 newly built houses to 50 vulnerable and long term IDP families in Talaimannar village in Mannar district. • Oxfam started the construction of two common wells, 32 emergency shelters, 32 latrines and the renovation of a 1.5 km road at Ulukkulam, in order to resettle people displaced from Avaranthulawa in Vavuniya. TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT Situation update • The situation remains tense. • Several INGOs reported that the police visited their offices and asked them to submit staff/vehicle details including personal address/information to the DIG Office during the course of the week. Internally Displaced Persons • On 16 & 18 August, 620 families (2,200 persons) were returned from Batticaloa district and Kiliveddy Transit Sites to Illankaithurai and Illankaithurai Mugathuvaram GN Divisions in Eachchilampattai. So far a total of 2,524 families (8,700 persons) have being returned to Eachchilampattai. Sector Response Shelter • In Poomarathadichchenai, CARE completed the construction of 38 semi-permanent shelters for returnee families. The construction of another 88 shelters is in progress and is expected to be completed within two weeks. • Semi-permanent shelter construction in Eachchilampattai by other agencies including ZAO, JRS and NRC are progressing. 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.humanitarianinfo.org/srilanka/ | http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team IASC Colombo Sri Lanka Food • WFP dispatched 13 MT of Corn Soya Blended (CSB) foods to two MOH divisions in the districts for 4,649 pregnant/ nursing mothers and children under five years. • Due to fumigation procedures at the District Warehouse in Trincomalee some food dispatches were delayed this week. However, 2,240 people who returned from Batticaloa to Eachchilampattai on the 16 & 18 August received WFP's food assistance. Water and Sanitation • On 22 August, Oxfam handed over a gully sucker to the Assistant Commissioner Local Government (ACLG) to operate in Muttur DS division. ACLG will appoint and pay the salary for the driver of the gully sucker and Oxfam will pay the operation cost until the end of this year. • CARE completed construction of four common wells in Soorangal and Nadooththu in Kinniya DS division this week. Education • UNICEF has setup children and youth clubs in Illankaithurai in Eachchilampattai