Inter-Agency IASC Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka SITUATION REPORT # 134 JAFFNA, KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITIVU, MANNAR, VAVUNIYA, TRINCOMALEE, BATTICALOA and AMPARA DISTRICTS 3-10 July 2008 IDP situation as reported this week by GAs Location Number of Families Number of Individuals Jaffna displaced before Dec 2005 23,533 74,015 displaced after Jan 2006 6,258 21,192 Kilinochchi 14,245 54,527 Mullaitivu 14,336 52,521 Vavuniya 5187 18,372 Mannar 6,633 24,207 Trincomalee 1,634 5,427 Batticaloa 4,637 17,455 Ampara 1,205 4,431 JAFFNA DISTRICT Situation update • The situation remained tense across Jaffna District, particularly in areas close to the FDL. Incoming and outgoing artillery shells/mortar firing have become a nearly nightly occurrence. • The curfew from 21.00 hours to 04.30 hours remains in place. • CDMA phones have not been working since 6 June 2008. The telecommunications company Mobitel is planning to install 19 new towers in the Jaffna District. • The GA announced changes in the procedures for travel outside of Jaffna issued by the SF Jaffna commander with effect from 1 July 2008. • The current situation of daily power cuts is expected to improve when the six newly purchased generators for the district are installed. Displacement/Returns • No movements were observed during the reporting period. Sector Developments/Gaps • After some 12 years, the Security Forces have given permission for cultivation of certain areas in Ariyalai East. • There is a shortage of certain essential medicines in the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Drugs for heart patients are of concern as are others such as Ciprofloxacillin, Cloxacillin, Clopact, Famotidine, Insulin and Benzathine Penicillin, which are in short supply. KILINOCHCHI & MULLAITIVU DISTRICTS & Manthai West (located in Mannar district but covered by Kilinochchi district) Situation update • After closure from 1 July, the Omanthai entry / exist point at the FDL was reopened for movement on 7 July at which time, people were allowed entry into the Vanni. Exits from the Vanni restarted on 8 July. 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.h psl.lk | http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency IASC Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka Displacement/Returns • District Secretariat of Kilinochchi reports that 569 families (2,106 persons) from Thunukkai and Pandiyankulam areas in Mullaitivu district were registered as IDPs in Karachchi AGA division over the past week. • 560 families (2,048 persons) from Manthai West have been registered in three AGA divisions of Kilinochchi district since 1 July. Sector Developments/Gaps • UNHCR conducted assessments in five locations in Kilinochchi where new IDP arrivals have been registered by authorities over the past week. • At the contingency site planning meeting on 4 July, several agencies committed to providing a total of 1,050 temporary shelters in the seven contingency sites identified and assessed in Kilinochchi [06] and in Mullaitivu [01] districts. • GA-Kilinochchi with the collaboration of UNDP organized the first District Livelihood Recovery Committee meeting in Kilinochchi on 09 July. During the meeting, INGO divisional level focal points were selected to facilitate monthly divisional livelihood meetings aimed at developing a common approach to implement livelihood activities in the region. • On 08 July, DRC transported one lorry load of NFRIs into the Vanni through the Omanthai entry / exit point at the FDL. MANNAR & VAVUNIYA DISTRICTS Situation update • The general situation in Vavuniya and Mannar District remains volatile, with ongoing tension amongst the general population. Security forces remain on high alert throughout the District with increased cordon and search operations in Vavuniya. • The general situation in Mannar District remains volatile. Uyilankulam and Madhu Road Junction checkpoints at the Forward Defense Line (FDL) remain closed (since September 2007 and March 2006 respectively). Restrictive procedures at Medawachchiya and checkpoints on the A14 road, including Uyilankulam, Kaddaiyadampan and Thiruketheeswaram, continue to delay supply of essential items and are resulting in price increases and fuel and construction material shortages. • Military operations continue in Manthai West division with intense daily confrontations between SLA and LTTE occurring north of the FDL. Displacement/Returns • 34 families (81 individuals) arrived in Mannar by sea from LTTE-held areas this week. 27 of these families (67 individuals) have been accommodated at the Kalimoddai IDP site. The total population of Kalimoddai is now 232 families (514 individuals). The remaining 7 families (14 persons) are accommodated in a second IDP site at Sirukkandal in Nanaddan DS division, recently established by the Mannar authorities. • GA Mannar reported at the resettlement and rehabilitation meeting that the government has allocated Rs. 4 million for the newly established IDP site at Sirukkandal. The SLA will prepare the land, shelter and other facilities in cooperation with the GA. • IDPs in Manthai West are displacing further north and as a result displacement figures for the division are decreasing. Official figures are awaited. Sector Developments/Gaps • District authorities in charge of distribution for displaced populations in the border villages of Vavuniya and Mullaitivu are liaising on difficulties related to distribution of WFP dry rations. • The continuation of water bowsering by the Pradeshiya Saba and World Vision to IDPs in Manthai West is threatened by limited fuel supplies. • Humanitarian agencies in Mannar continue to face difficulties in transporting construction and other project material in Government controlled areas. Delays in obtaining clearance to transport materials are impacting implementation and increasing project costs. • UNICEF reports mobile medical health teams were allowed to transport vaccines through the Omanthai check point into Vavuniya North. TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT Situation update 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.h psl.lk | http://ochaonline.un.org/srilanka/ Inter-Agency IASC Standing Committee Country Team Colombo Sri Lanka • On 09 July, the NGO Consortium organized a meeting with the GOC, security forces and I/NGOs. Concerns related to fishing restriction, access, increased abduction and other security issues were raised. Displacement/Returns • 67 people arrived in Trincomalee from Mullativu from 2 to 10 July. All were transferred to Mannar shortly after their arrival. • On 05 July, a government-organized return of 122 IDP families (393 individuals) from IDP sites in Batticaloa to Trincomalee, Muttur DS division took place. The families originate from Srinivasapuram, Sinnakkulam and Thagapuram and some were able to return directly to their houses. Others are residing temporarily in public buildings, including those from areas, which fall within a high security zone. • On 09 July, the Coordinating Director for the Ministry of Resettlement and Relief Services reported that “Go & See” visits will be arranged, with the support of UNHCR, for IDPs to visit relocation sites, including Pallikudiyiruppu, Ralkully and Nalloor. Sector Developments/Gaps • Most of the 1990 case load of conflict affected IDPs who were residing in Lovelane, a former paddy marketing broad in Trincomalee town, have received houses under the Tsunami housing project in Iquabal Nagar, Kuchavelli DS Division. Seven families (26 people) remain in Lovelane. • Conflict affected IDPs in Jehanathan Thodam, Nilavelli have also received housed in Kumpurupiddi, Kuchavelli DS Division, although poor access to water in Kumpurupiddi has prompted some to return to Jehanathan Thodam. BATTICALOA DISTRICT • On 10 July, the monthly CPN (Civil Protection Network) meeting was held. Members of Hambantota and Matara CPN together with CHA district and Colombo officials discussed future activities, joint programmes, field visits and peace building activities with the Batticaloa CPN members. Displacement/Returns • As of 7 July 2008, according to government statistics there were 4,637 IDP families (17,455 IDPs) in the district. • On 5 July, 123 families (393 persons) returned to Srinivasapuram, Thangapuram and Iththikulam in Trincomalee district. The return was organized by the Government. Sector Developments/Gaps • The IDP Technical Coordination meeting identified problems in the shelter, water supply and sanitation sectors in IDP camps. Status updates will be provided by sector focal points at the next IDP Technical Coordination meeting to be held on 22 July. AMPARA DISTRICT Situation update • The security situation in Ampara district is relatively stable, although military operations are ongoing in Kanchikudichchiaru and some isolated shooting incidents have been reported. Displacement/Returns • According to GA statistics, 4,431 persons (1,205 families) are displaced in Ampara District. 915 of these persons (247 families) are from Trincomalee District. 2,971 persons (829 families) were displaced from within the district and the remaining 545 displaced persons originated from Batticaloa (308), Jaffna (74), Vavuniya (44), Kilinochchi (34) and Mannar (85). More than 95% of the displaced persons are living with friends and relatives. • 49 persons from