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Sri Lanka: North East Joint Humanitarian Update - Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa Districts Report #8

Countries
Sri Lanka
Sources
UN RC/HC Sri Lanka
Publication date
Origin
View original
01-15 June 2009

IDP situation as reported this week by GAs

Displacement after April 2006

Location
Number of Families
Number of Individuals
Jaffna
21,638 displaced before Dec 2005
5,517 displaced after Jan 2006
74,059 displaced before Dec 2005
18,745 displaced after Jan 2006
Kilinochchi
-
-
Mullaitivu
-
-
Vavuniya
89,934
273,434
Mannar
2,423
6,771
Trincomalee
2,911
9,080
Batticaloa
1,520
5,809
Ampara
1,076
3,951

JAFFNA DISTRICT

Situation update

- The security situation remained calm across Jaffna District. The SLA continues to conduct cordon and search operations and random checks.

- Jaffna experiences unannounced power cuts during daytime, and the usual power cut in the evenings. The unreliable mobile phone coverage still persists. The usual curfew remains in place from 2100 - 0430 hours daily.

Displacement/ Returns

- As of 15 June, a total of 11,069 persons who fled the Vanni had arrived in Jaffna. 10,906 Vanni IDPs are now accommodated in nine IDP sites (Kopay Teachers' Training College, Old Court House Jaffna, Mirusuvil RCTMS Church, Kodikamam GTMS School, and Kaithady Hindu Children Home, Kaithady University Hostel and Kaithady Palmyra Research Institute (sites A and B) and Kodikamam Ramavil site.

- As of 15 June, 163 IDPs had been released, including elderly IDPs who joined the homes of relatives.

- The Kodikamam Ramavil site II was completed with 617 individual emergency shelters and 2,613 IDPs temporarily accommodated at Chava Hindu Ladies College and Nelliyady MV were moved to this site. A new site, a former military camp has been identified by government authorities as a possible additional camp to accommodate IDPs from highly populated camps such as Kaithady University Hostel, and Mirusuvil RCTMS. The de-mining agency Halo Trust has started Battle Area Clearance and mine clearance at this site.

- In April 2008, over 60 families displaced in 2006, returned to Allaipiddy. There are still over 200 Allaipiddy families in displacement. 125 families wish to return to Allaipiddy, given the improvement in the security situation in the area, and the easing of fishing restrictions. However these families have been waiting for security clearances for more than a year. UNHCR continues to advocate with authorities on this issue and was assured that clearances will be issued soon.

Sector Developments/Gaps

Shelter

- Stage two of the Kodikamam Ramavil site was completed with 617 emergency shelters built by several agencies, such as SEWALANKA, JSAC, IOM, ZOA and LEADS. Communal buildings, including kitchens and pre-schools were built by CARITAS, FORUT, IOM and NRC.

- World Vision provided roofing material to 44 most vulnerable families affected by cyclone Nisha in Kopay.

NFRI

- Based on a request made by the Government Agent, FORUT distributed additional cooking utilities to all new IDP camps in Jaffna.

- World Vision distributed around 820 hygiene kits to families accommodated at Kodikamam Ramavil site I and UNHCR supplemented some items such as soap to standardize the packet.

Food

- WFP dispatched 83 MT of mixed food commodities to cover the food needs of 11,069 IDPs for the last two weeks of June. CARITAS continues to provide complementary food items (fish, vegetables and spices) to all IDP sites on a daily basis. Additionally, based on a request made by the Jaffna GA, FORUT provided a nutritional breakfast for all IDPs in Jaffna for the first week of June and DRC distributed 14 MT of mixed food commodities (Bengal gram, crystal salt, dry chili, mustard, fennel and oil) to provide a nutritional breakfast for the second week of June.

- WFP dispatched 4.35 MT of mixed food commodities to start the School Feeding Programme at Kodikamam Ramavil Temporary Learning Space. The food is sufficient to feed 720 students for 40 school feeding days. CARITAS will provide vegetables for it. Additionally, 254 MT of rice was released under WFP's regular Food for Education Programme to feed 85,071 students for the remainder of the second school term.

- DRC distributed 8,326 complementary food packages to 4,163 long term IDPs in the old welfare centres at Uduvil, Kopay, Sandilipay, Thellipalai DS divisions. Each food package contains two weeks of food for one person and the distribution will cover one month.

- Due to the lack of adequate drainage, waste from the community kitchens has created a health hazard in many of the Jaffna IDP camps. Agencies constructing kitchens have agreed to construct proper drainage systems and a soakage pit to hold the waste and will remove it by periodic gully sucking. UNICEF has provided the soakage pit model.

Nutrition

- RDHS supported by UNICEF continues to provide ready to eat therapeutic food to all severely undernourished children under 5 years of age through the Nutrition Rehabilitation Program in each camp. Supplementary feeding with UNIMIX is provided to all moderately undernourished children.

- WFP distributed 1 MT of toasted Corn Soya Blend to all IDP camps. The distribution is sufficient to cover 1,424 Mother and Child Nutrition Programme beneficiaries for seven days. LEADS toasted the CSB and mixed it with scraped coconut and sugar.

- CARITAS distributed 500 nutritional flour meal packs to pregnant and lactating mothers in all Vanni IDP camps through the RDHS.

- UNICEF is currently training 300 PHMs under its Infant and Young Child Feeding Programme to enrich their knowledge on young child feeding.

WASH

- ICRC constructed 60 emergency gender segregated toilets, four bathing spaces with necessary water storage tanks and water taps for drinking water in the new site "Kodikamam Ramavil II" as per the emergency standard and also installed a tube well to provide water for bathing and washing.

- UNICEF is supporting the schools recently vacated by IDPs by upgrading and cleaning existing WASH facilities through SEWALANKA.

- PHIs continue to support hygiene promotion activities in all camps with the support of UNICEF.

- UNICEF is supporting the NWS&DB to procure specialized pumps and pipes for two water supply schemes that will bring drinking water and bathing water to IDP camps. This will improve the quantity and quality of water available at Palmyrah and Ramavil camps.

- ZOA repaired two toilets in the Udupiddy South Welfare Centre and a tube well in K.K.S welfare centre and provided partitioning for privacy at the K.K.S welfare centre in Point Pedro DS.

Education

The Kodikamam Ramavil Temporary Learning Space was opened by the Government Agent on 05 June, and 1,300 IDP children from Kodikamam Ramavil site are attending the facility. The Education Department with the support of UNICEF has built the TLS and the kitchen. WASH facilities were also provided by UNICEF/ SEWALANKA. The Education Department in coordination with SCiSL has provided furniture and UNICEF provided stationery items and text books. Uniforms were provided by the Education Department and JRS bore the tailoring charges. School bags and shoes were provided by FORUT and JRS. WFP agreed to provide mid-morning meals under its "School Feeding Programme" for these displaced children. FORUT provided cooking utensils. The School Feeding Programme at the Kodikamam Ramavil Temporary Learning Space has commenced and CARITAS will provide complementary food items (vegetables).

- The Education Cluster agencies and Education Department has jointly addressed the gaps in education for displaced children in Jaffna. As of 15 June, all IDP children (approximately 2,800) in Jaffna are attending an education facility.

- Six pre-school teachers were identified within the camp of Ramavil. The three pre-schools at Kodikamam Ramavil have commenced and ZOA has erected pre-school units. UNICEF and SCiSL provided part of the learning and recreational material to these pre-schools. SCiSL added pre-school teacher and children kits. SCiSL will take care of the salary and training of the pre-school teachers. DDG has built a play park using local material and efforts are on going to add more items to the play park outside these pre-schools. CARITAS has agreed use their resources for the same.

- JSAC with the support of UNICEF is conducting after-school guided group activities in the TLS at Ramavil.

- A ten member team consisting of SCiSL and its two partner agencies, namely Shantiham and SOND are carrying out recreational activities for IDP children at Kathaidy after school hours. The recreational activities last for roughly two hours and a total of 882 children are provided refreshments.

- A catch-up education programme for G.C.E O/L students is being conducted by ZOA Refugee Care in Kodikamam GTMS, Mirusuvil RCTMS and Eluthumadduval GTMS with the support of the Department of Education.

- UNDP distributed educational kits to 293 vulnerable students at Santhai through the Community for Peace Programme funded by Australian Aid. Another 24 pre-school children were provided uniforms in Suthanthirapuram, Thellipalai DS.

Health

- On 09 June the ward at the Chavakachcheari base hospital constructed by the International Relief and Development Agency at a cost of US$ 27,000 (Rupees 3.1 million) was opened. This was funded by WHO through the CERF. WHO provided 50 beds to Chavakachcheari District Hospital to be used by IDP patients.

- On 09 June, WHO handed over an Emergency Medical Kit to RDHS Jaffna to support IDP patients. The emergency kit has all the emergency medical equipment and drugs to cater for 10,000 patients for three months.

- Medical Team International (MTI) conducted a one day Emergency Patient Care Management training for 15 PHIs and 16 PHMs at Chavakachcheari Medical Health Officer Division. These health staff will provide emergency patient care to IDPs in camps. The same training was provided to another 58 PHIs and PHMs from Manipay and Thellipalai MOH divisions to serve the general population in emergencies. The training was supported by WHO.

- Medical Team International trained 189 nurses studying at the Jaffna Nurses Training School in Emergency Medical Care for the Emergency Medical Treatment level one certificate. MTI also provided refresher training on EMT for health staff of the Point Pedro Base Hospital and Valvettithurai District Hospital.

- IRD handed over US$ one million worth of drugs to RDHS Jaffna and Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Protection & Child Protection

- UNICEF conducted a two-day training for 31 police personal including nine children & women's desk officers and police personal from each camp on Child and Young Person Ordinance (CYPO) and Emergency Regulations for Child Surrenders. Twenty nine officers from the Department of Probation and Child Care Services attended the training along with the police to effectively coordinate and identify vulnerable children with special needs.

- Sarvodaya briefed 50 contract labourers of ZOA and LEADS, who were constructing the shelters, on Mine Risk Education Safety.

- World Vision's Child Well-being Programme continues in five selected villages in Chankanai, Uduvil, Chavakachcheari, Kopay and Velanai Divisions and has also completed a baseline survey there. Under this programme World Vision Commemorated World Environmental Day at Thidatpulam in collaboration with the Uduvil DS and distributed 100 fruit plants and shady plants to 50 families. A disabled child was gifted a wheel chair and another three vulnerable children in Chankanai were given the same by advocating with the Jaffna Jaipur Centre for Disability Rehabilitation. Eighty vulnerable children in Kopay were given exercise books.

- UNHCR conducts protection monitoring visits at the new IDP camps. UNHCR registers and verifies cases and advocates with the GA and Security Forces on behalf of family members separated between camps to be reunified. 111 families have been recently reunited but the process of family reunification remains slow. UNHCR supports the GA to identify vulnerable persons who should be released from camps. Most recently, the military approved the release of over 200 elderly persons to join family members outside the camps.

Demining

- The District Mine Action Office (DMAO) has received approval from authorities in Jaffna to start demining in the first 300 meters adjoining the buffer zone area (Santhankulam to Thonddamanru). All 19 tasking dossiers were approved and 15 tasking dossiers were handed over to DDG and the balance four tasking dossiers were handed over to Halo Trust for demining. DDG has started demining activities and Halo Trust is to start soon. Upon completion of demining, around 250 families will be resettled in these villages.

- Demining agencies face difficulties bringing in new demining equipment due delays in receiving government approval.

- The Halo Trust has started on Battle Area Clearance (BAC) and Mine clearance at the Kachchai Thampputhoddam site, which has been identified by the government to accommodate new IDPs; Halo Trust has given high priority to this emergency clearance and has deployed most of its resources (mechanical and manual) to clear the area as soon as possible.

- Demining agencies DDG and Halo Trust have scaled up operations in Jaffna due to increased needs and are expected to extend operations to new areas. However, agencies have not received any official correspondence from the government.

- HALO Trust and DDG cleared an area of 9,499 m2 and found 74 anti-personal mines and 108 UXOs.

Early Recovery & Livelihoods

- IOM, under it's Early Recovery Programme (ERP), provided livelihood assets each worth Rs. 50,000 to 19 refugees who returned from India and currently living in Jaffna District. The project is funded by Australian Aid through International Relief Fund. 51 IDP families from Vadmarachchi South west division received livelihood assets (worth Rs. 40,000) through it's implementing partner SEWALANKA. 49 families from Valikamam North division received livelihood assets through implementing partner Jaffna Social Action Centre and a family from Valikamam South West received livelihood assets through it's implementing partner The Refugee Rehabilitation Organization (TRRO).

- DRC constructed internal roads in Thoppu (625 ft) and Neetavan (890 ft) old IDP Welfare Centres through a cash-forwork (CFW) programme with 258 IDPs. Work on the Kappanda Welfare Centre internal road (1,330 ft) is ongoing.

- World Vision conducted a three day capacity building training for 35 members from two Community Based Originations in Uduvil DS. 37 beneficiaries in Kopay, Chankanai, and Uduvil were trained on livestock development and were given cows.

- ZOA is upgrading a drainage channel in Vallai, Karaveddy DS division through a food-for-work programme and distributed food for 228 man days to 40 beneficiaries. ZOA donated agriculture inputs to 94 families and a home garden package to 30 families in the Point Pedro Agriculture Inspector Division.

- CARITAS supported the renovation of the Ilavalai Holy Family Conmen Hostel roof which was badly-affected by Cyclone Nisha.

- UNDP conducted a three-day business plan workshop for 16 youth in Kopay DS, who will engage in the aluminium fitting industry. UNDP provided tools and equipment to the Community Technical Education Canter (COMTEC) service station and held an aluminium fittings workshop in Chankanai DS division as a vocational training for Chankanai youth. A photocopy machine was provided to the Allipeddy Fisheries Cooperative Society in Velanai DS division.

- UNDP in coordination with the Government has initiated Early Recovery Coordination in Jaffna; the government has identified 12 villages for resettlement within the 600 meter High Security Buffer Zone and 450 families have already spontaneously resettled to this location. UNDP in coordination with the Thellipalai DS office conducted Participatory Need Assessments (PNA) in eight locations. The PNA report will be shared with relevant agencies.

- FORUT's Jaffna Rehabilitation and Development Programme (JRDP) funded by NORAD for a period of five years from January 2009 has four main components including Harm and Demand Reduction of Alcohol and Drugs (ADD, Child Rights Protection and Promotion (CRPP), Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Gender Economic Empowerment (GEE). The project targets DS divisions in Point Pedro, Karaveddy, Thellipalai and Uduvil. Baseline surveys have been completed for all four components and Government officials, partners and volunteers have been oriented.