UNICEF Situation Report Sri Lanka 21 Feb 2005

Source: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Date: 21 Feb 2005

Major developments

Psycho-Social Framework

UNICEF has drafted a strategic framework for psycho-social activities in Sri Lanka in the post-tsunami context. Activities cover four main areas: community support services; specialized services for vulnerable groups; direct support for mental health services; and district and national coordination for psycho-social services. As part of its post-conflict response, UNICEF already had a well developed psycho-social programme in Sri Lanka before the tsunami, particularly in the North East where UNICEF worked with the education department to provide psycho-social support in schools, and with community-based organizations to support projects for women and children. Much of UNICEF’s activities pre-tsunami focused on providing training to government staff at a national and local level, and to local organizations.

UNICEF’s psycho-social response during the emergency phase of the tsunami response have focused on creating child-friendly spaces within displaced camps and re-establishing routines linked to education, play, sports and other community activities. UNICEF has also focused on ensuring that children are not separated from parents or care-givers and that family or other social networks are maintained or re-established. The emergency response has including the following activities:

- Provision of basic survival needs (shelter, food & water, health & sanitation).

- Ensuring protection and security for children and displaced communities.

- Facilitating reunification of children with family members, friends and neighbours.

- Provision of accurate information about events, procedures, and how to access resources.

- Sensitization of communities about normal reactions to traumatic events.

- Identification and training of community-based professionals and volunteers to provide psychosocial support.

- Advocating for community and religious leaders to facilitate appropriate traditional/cultural ceremonies

- Creation of child-friendly spaces within displaced centers and provision of recreation kits to provide opportunities for play and peer-group activities.

- Minimizing potentially harmful approaches by advocating for agencies to incorporate culturally-appropriate international guidelines into all psychosocial response.

- Coordination with Government Ministries, NCPA, NGOs, other UN agencies, and district psychosocial forums to coordinate the emergency psychosocial response to tsunami-affected areas, develop guidelines and protocols, and promote approaches in the best interests of the child.

The goal of psycho-social activities in the rehabilitation and recovery phase is to create an environment where children can return to normalcy and participate in activities that promote resilience and recovery. This has been achieved through the following activities:

Community Support Services:

• Assisting children to return to school and learning environments
  
  
• Provision of recreational materials to schools, youth clubs, pre-school and day care centres.
  
  
• Development of Tsunami Awareness materials to:

  - Provide accurate information about tsunamis to avoid myths and misconceptions.

  - Facilitate discussions with children and communities so that people can share their experiences and concerns.

  - Reduce fear about the ocean and tsunamis.

  - Inform people about tsunami alert systems and what to do in case there is another tsunami
  
  

• Film and creative arts activities for children and communities in all affected districts (currently being implemented by Mobile Visions in 150 venues, and funding for ongoing drama, arts, and awareness-raising activities in all affected districts.)
  
  
• Development of Psychosocial Activities for Young Children, to promote ECD activities in pre -schools and day centres.

- Formation and facilitation of teacher support groups

- Development of culturally appropriate interactive psychosocial training modules and materials for teachers

- School Advisory Program (training of school advisors to support children and young people needing special care, career guidance, and/or referral to professional services).

Financial and technical support to community-based NGOs and government agencies to provide medium-term psychosocial support to children, youth, and vulnerable groups:

- UNICEF is currently training community workers in basic psychosocial care and assessment, and in child-to-child methodologies. Child-to-child methodologies will be the main approach to engage young people and implement youth programs.

- To date, UNICEF has received and reviewed 23 proposals from NGOs and mental health services to provide ongoing psychosocial support and community-based mental health care in affected areas. Thirteen proposals have been approved and are being implemented, and nine are in the process of being approved.

The framework will be the subject of discussion with UNICEF field staff, Government and NGO partners over the coming weeks. In the long term, UNICEF will prioritize community interventions and capacity building with government agencies and local groups to revitalize and reinforce social protection mechanisms, integrate sustainable psychosocial interventions, and promote resilience and coping strategies.

Coordination

There remains confusion regarding the coordination of the emergency response following the closure of the CNO and the establishment of several task forces. There are concerns in some districts that decisions are being made in Colombo without sufficient consultation or communication with the districts and local coordination structures that were functioning well are being replaced by central coordination mechanisms. In addition, there is a growing problem of coordination between relief agencies. New organizations are arriving in districts with permission to work from central government, but without properly informing the local authorities about their presence or activities. In the context of poor communication between Colombo and the districts, consultation with affected populations is almost non-existent.

Relocation of IDPs

While identification of relocation sites and construction of temporary shelters are well under way in some districts, the situation remains confused in other districts. Lack of information and consultation with displaced families about their relocation options, pressure on families to move prematurely, and delays in identifying land and building temporary shelters continue in several districts. In Ampara for example, UNICEF is following up two reports that displaced families were forced to move out of schools in Thirokovil and Alaydevikbu areas. The school principals involved have informed UNICEF that the District Secretaries asked the displaced families to move to another location. While in Jaffna, it is reported that pressure is being put on displaced families to move out of schools and churches prematurely before the transit centres have been completed. Some IDPs have moved out of the temporary camps and are now living in tents without adequate services. In several other districts, families are moving spontaneously to private lands where they put up tents. The provision of adequate water and sanitation services in these areas is difficult and there are concerns about the physical and psycho-social well-being and protection of families living in these conditions.

In Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, the construction of relocation sites is well under way. In Jaffna district, the local authorities are seeking to accelerate the construction of the planned 18 transit centres. The GA and LTTE have requested all agencies that have committed to construct the transit centres to speed up their work. In Trincomalee, land for relocation sites has been surveyed and land allocations proposed in all DS divisions but the information has not yet been made public. In Kinniya DS division, the Ministry for Trincomalee Development has disallowed the lands proposed, so new land will need to be identified. All organizations wishing to work on shelter will need to be approved by the President and a formal MOU signed with the GA. This has meant a suspension of construction of temporary shelters in Trincomalee district while MOUs are signed. In Galle, the GA has identified lands for relocation of families in five main locations. The JVP is constructing a large number of temporary wooden houses for families in temporary camps and the Italian government has supplied a large number of tents.

In the absence of comprehensive relocation plans in all districts, a number of schools continue to be used as temporary shelters for IDPs. In some districts, such as Trincomalee and Jaffna, schools classes are continuing in those schools used as camps. In other districts, such as Mullaitivu, alternative sites have been identified for temporary schools until such time as the school buildings are vacated. In general, it is difficult to continue to run classes in schools being used to house IDPs. The environment in such schools is not conducive for learning, there are added pressures on water and sanitation, and classes are disrupted by the noise and disturbances from displaced families living in the school.

The number of schools housing IDPs has gone down since last week as indicated in the table below:

Three Year Strategic Planning

UNICEF has embarked on a three year strategic planning process for its post-tsunami strategy in Sri Lanka. Regular up-dates on the planning process will be provided.

Visits

The UNICEF Comptroller, Terry Brown, and the Deputy Director of Emergency Programmes, Afshan Khan, successfully completed their visit to Sri Lanka.

The UNICEF UK National Committee’s Goodwill Ambassador, Trudy Stiler, is visiting tsunami affected areas in the South of Sri Lanka this week.

Needs Assessment

IDP relocation survey

The rapid survey to assess IDP preferences for relocation supported by UNHCR, UNICEF and Save the Children is ongoing. 12 enumerators were trained in Jaffna on 14 February and the survey was completed on 17 February. 12 enumerators were trained in Galle on Saturday 19 February and the survey will be completed on Tuesday 22 February. The findings from the survey in Ampara district are currently being translated.

ADB/JBIC/JICA/World Bank joint assessment: phase II

Training for the second phase of the joint needs assessment is scheduled to start this week. Three UNICEF staff is scheduled to participate in the needs assessment on three different teams - one for Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar; one for Matara; and one for Hambantota. UNICEF will be the focal point of the Kilinochchi/ Mullaitivu team.

There is concern that the GoSL has not yet signed off on the process or on its participation. There is a meeting on 22 February to discuss the Phase II joint assessment and the GoSL’s involvement in it.

UNICEF Response

Water and Sanitation

Health and hygiene promotion

Hygiene promotion is a major focus of UNICEF activities in all districts. In Jaffna, ACF, the Danish Red Cross, WHO and UNICEF are working together on a coordinated and participatory hygiene promotion strategy in IDP camps in advance of the distribution of hygiene kits. The health promotion campaign will be carried out by health volunteers in the camps. UNICEF is working with a group of NGOs (Merlin, Oxfam, Terre des Hommes, Oxfam UK, ACD and Solidarite) in Ampara district to coordinate hygiene promotion. 400 volunteers are available from the district health authorities to assist with hygiene promotion in the schools and community. UNICEF is finalizing a proposal with the Ministry of Health to provide training to public health inspectors on setting up health and hygiene promotion committees in IDP camps in Batticaloa district. In addition, a joint UNICEF/ ACF training for 32 government, military and NGO staff on chlorination will take place this week.

Work in IDP relocation sites

In most districts, water and sanitation activities are hampered by uncertain relocation plans. The spontaneous resettlement of families on private lands makes it difficult to plan water and sanitation facilities. Many families lack sufficient water supply, sanitation, or bathing facilities. In several districts, private landowners oppose the construction of toilets and installation of water points on their land. In Jaffna, the Relief and Response Coordination Committee has allocated 4 transit centres for UNICEF to provide water and sanitation services. A total of 32 toilets and 9 wells will be constructed by UNICEF in these transit sites.

Water supply

The water bowser handed over the Water Board was received in Jaffna on 16 February. Plans are under way to support water supply schemes in Moraketiara fishery housing scheme, Kirinda semi-permanent houses and Nakulugamuwa primary school in Hambantota district. In Ampara district, UNICEF is working with the Water Board to prepare a monitoring system for the 18 water bowsers operating in the district. A total of 44 water tanks with stands and fittings have been distributed in Trincomalee district.

Latrine construction

Latrine construction is ongoing in all districts. The following overview is available:

Hambantota: construction of toilets in two damaged schools and a mosque is ongoing. UNICEF has shared designs for the construction of child friendly toilets with the Water Board

Batticaloa: a total of 119 toilets have been constructed. Toilet construction is hampered in some places as people are spontaneously settling on private land in tents and the landlords do not want the construction of toilets.

In Trincomalee, UNICEF has completed the installation of 16 temporary toilets in Kinniya and 14 in Muthur, bringing the total number up to 140 latrines installed. In addition, UNICEF has provided 100 prefabricated units to the Ministry of Health and given 50 plastic squatting plates to Oxfam for latrine construction.

Cleaning of wells

This work is ongoing. In Trincomalee, a total of 287 wells have been cleaned and dewatered in Kuchaveli DS Division. All wells are now in use. UNICEF is supporting WUSC volunteers with food and technical assistance to carry out this work.

Water and sanitation and protection

In Batticaloa district, UNICEF is working with ACF and Oxfam Australia to develop a checklist to address protection concerns when setting up water and sanitation facilities in camps and communities. The protection task force in Batticaloa will give a presentation to the water and sanitation task force on the importance of community participation as a tool for protection when setting up water and sanitation facilities in camps.

Staffing

UNICEF is currently in the process of hiring seven national Water and Sanitation Officers for the field offices.

Health and Nutrition

Nutrition Survey

The findings of the joint UNICEF/ WFP/ MRI nutrition survey will be publicized at the end of this week. In Hambantota district, the health authorities have started to provide Triposha (blended food rich in micro-nutrients) for children living in the camps.

Training for health workers

UNICEF is working with the Family Health Bureau to design training for health workers on health and nutrition in emergencies

Health and relocation sites

As explained above, there are considerable problems regarding the provision of adequate health services for relocated displaced families, especially those who settle spontaneously. In Jaffna, the Department of Health has stressed the importance of setting up temporary health centres that are easily accessible for displaced families living in camps and those staying outside camps with friends and relatives. The GA, on the other hand, supports establishing temporary health clinics in the camps themselves. UNICEF will help to provide family tents as temporary health clinics in camps as an interim measure while the temporary clinics outside the camps are constructed.

Waste Disposal

Waste disposal is a problem in some districts. In Hambantota, for example, the removal of plastic bottles and containers is a growing problem. The district environmental officers are working on plans for a more organized disposal.

Immunization

The district health authorities in Kalmunai division, Ampara district, have resumed immunization services in four temporary locations for displaced families. They have requested further UNICEF support to carry out this work and this will be provided.

Reconstruction of health facilities

The district health authorities in Kalmunai, Ampara, are currently operating a temporary maternity room/ labour ward in a private location in Marruthumanai where 30 - 35 deliveries are estimated per month. They have asked for UNICEF support and this will be provided.

Visits

The ECD section will visit Mullaitivu this week to assess the scale of damage to health services.

Education

Coordination

A meeting on the reconstruction of schools damaged during the tsunami has been convened by the Ministry of Education on 24 February. UNICEF has agreed with the MOE that this will double up as a coordination meeting for all agencies involved in education activities.

School attendance

Accurate figures are not yet available on school attendance. Nevertheless, estimates suggest that school attendance is improving in most districts. In Batticaloa, it is estimated that school attendance in Paddiruppu zone is 70%; 60% in Batticaloa zone and 80% in Kalkudah zone. School attendance in Hambantota is reported to be 80% and all schools have now resumed classes. In Matara, school attendance is reported to be about 80%. In Jaffna, attendance in non-affected schools is 90% while attendance in temporary location sites is around 55%. The provision of school supplies by UNICEF has increased school attendance in most districts. In some districts, such as Galle and Trincomalee, attendance is reported to remain low.

Distribution of school supplies

School supplies have been distributed in all districts and gaps are being identified. In some districts problems have arisen with the arrival of new NGOs who are providing support directly to schools without liaising with the Zonal Directors of Education. There are concerns that some schools may receive double supplies. In 21 schools in Mullaitivu and 20 schools in Kilinochchi, 7,780 students have received school stationery. UNICEF has distributed 205 teaching kits to about 90 schools in Trincomalee.

Reconstruction of schools/ temporary schools

Plans for temporary and semi-permanent school reconstruction are underway in most districts. In Batticaloa district, construction of temporary school buildings in Paddiruppu zone is ongoing and should be completed early next week. UNICEF is awaiting the list of semi-permanent schools to be constructed in Kalkudah education zone. A technical needs assessment for the reconstruction of Zahira college in Hambantota is ongoing. Construction of temporary school shelters is ongoing in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi. UNICEF has also provided 145 tarpaulins and jungle poles for 8 schools - consisting of 40 temporary classrooms - where displaced families continue to occupy school buildings. In Trincomalee, UNICEF has provided 14 temporary shelters for 7 schools. UNICEF has submitted a proposal for the construction of 109 temporary classrooms in government and LTTE controlled areas in Maruthakerny (46 in government controlled areas and 63 in LTTE controlled areas). In Vadamarachchi, Jaffna, the ZDE will form a committee to implement the construction of temporary classrooms, consisting of UNICEF, GTZ and the ZDE. In Ampara, UNICEF is awaiting approval for the construction of 67 semi-permanent classrooms.

School cleaning

UNICEF has completed the cleaning of schools in most districts. In Trincomalee, white washing and minor repairs are ongoing in 63 schools. UNICEF has supported the cleaning of 36 schools in Jaffna. Cleaning is ongoing in two additional schools, and the remaining schools will be cleaned when the IDPs move out. Cleaning includes: cleaning and repairs; whitewashing and painting; repairing furniture; cleaning wells and latrines; and repairing the water supply system.

Water and sanitation in schools

UNICEF continues to support the construction and upgrading of water and sanitation facilities in schools. In Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, three water tanks, buckets and plastic cups have been distributed to temporary schools. Four water tanks with taps were supplied to four schools in Jaffna.

Supporting O and A Level students

In several districts, UNICEF has received requests for assistance to support O and A level students with copying of notes lost in the tsunami and special tuition to prepare for exams. UNICEF has received proposals for special tuition from all three education zones in Batticaloa district, for example. UNICEF is liaising with the Ministry of Education and other development partners to determine how best to meet this need.

Support to teachers

UNICEF continues to support teachers affected by the tsunami. In Hambantota, for example, UNICEF has repaired five teachers’ quarters for teachers who lost their homes.

School uniforms

Stitching and distribution of school uniforms is ongoing in all districts. UNICEF is now considering providing a second set of uniforms for children in the tsunami affected areas. UNICEF reports that 2,250 students from 14 schools have received school uniforms in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu with the stitching and distribution still continuing. UNICEF is helping to support the stitching of uniforms in several districts.

Protection and Psycho-Social Support

Unaccompanied and separated children

The latest statistics on unaccompanied and separated children show a total of 45 unaccompanied children, 1,074 separated children and 3,721 children who have lost one parent. Identification of unaccompanied and separated children in the community is ongoing, however due to the fluid situation with temporary camps and relocation sites the data is not yet fully complete.

UNICEF is also tracking follow-up assessments for unaccompanied and separated children. A total of 43 unaccompanied have children have benefited from follow-up assessments by Save the Children and Christian Children’s Fund in all districts. 579 separated children have received follow-up assessments, 36 have benefited from Fit Persons court orders and a further 48 cases are pending; and 686 children who have lost one parent have received family kits. The following table shows progress in follow-up work for unaccompanied and separated children:

In Jaffna, Save the Children in Sri Lanka is organizing a training for probation officers, child rights promotion officers, UNICEF and SCiSL staff on social work related to unaccompanied minors.

Sponsorship schemes

UNICEF is focusing this week on seeking to coordinate and standardize the many private and NGO sponsorship schemes for unaccompanied and separated children. There is currently no standard approach to sponsorship for families supporting separated and unaccompanied children - leading to confusion and potential inequity and discrimination in the distribution of resources. UNICEF is working with the Commissioner for Probation and Child Care to address this problem and a meeting has been set up on 24 February to discuss the situation.

Family kits

Family kits for families supporting separated and unaccompanied children and for single-parent families have been received in all districts and a system for their distribution is now being worked out with local probation officers, child rights promotion officers and UNICEF. In some districts, UNICEF is procuring a few items locally to supplement the kits.

Tsunami Law

Following UNICEF’s input to the Ministry of Social Welfare’s amendment to the Tsunami Law last week, there has been no progress in the passing of the law which currently remains in the President’s Office.

Psychosocial support to children

See above under major developments for an overview of UNICEF’s psycho-social framework.

The team of trainers from the Philippines providing training on the child-to-child methodology, will conduct a second training in Galle this week. The head of the Philippino team has agreed to work with UNICEF for several weeks over the period of a year to help make the approach sustainable.

In Ampara, the psycho-social core group and the psycho-social forum met in Kalmunai to develop terms of reference for the family support workers programme and to plan a two week training programme. Education representatives have participated in the meetings to strengthen links between psycho-social activities in the camps, schools and communities.

The scattered and unplanned relocation of displaced families in Jaffna district has disrupted the activities of the local NGO running childrens’ clubs

The Psychiatric and Paediatric Department of the Medical Faculty of Karapitiya University in Galle, have undertaken to train 150 pre-intern doctors on psycho-social support for affected families.

Child abuse

UNICEF and its protection partners are monitoring for cases of physical and sexual abuse against children in all districts. In Trincomalee, the development of public awareness raising materials on child abuse is ongoing. Boxes have been placed in camps where people can lodge complaints anonymously. In Kilinochchi, a meeting of the Prevention of Child Abuse committee was held and UNICEF will follow up with posters on child abuse.

Inter-Agency Collaboration

The water and sanitation coordination meeting was held at UNICEF in Colombo on Friday. Some new NGOs have joined the meeting.

The second meeting of the social protection working group was held today.

As lead agency for the water and sanitation sector in Ampara, UNICEF proposed the establishment of a technical sub-group within the water and sanitation coordination group. This recommendation was supported by the Water Board and INGOs and a technical sub-group consisting of ICRC, ACF and the Water Board, supported by UNICEF, has been set up. The first task will be to draft standards and guidelines for the construction of water and sanitation facilities.

An OCHA field officer arrived in Batticaloa on 15 February and will be based out of the UNICEF office until an OCHA office is completed. OCHA field officers are already located in Kilinochchi where UNICEF is the UN Focal Point and Area Security Coordinator and in Ampara where UNICEF is the deputy (with WFP as UN Focal Point/Area Security Coordinator).

Supply and Logistics

Although some items have been cleared, delays continue at the air and sea ports. Item of particular need that are still in customs include: communication equipment, vehicles, gully emptiers and tents.

The Representative met with the Commissioner General of Essential Services and the Secretary, Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation to expedite clearance. There is a recognition from the GoSL that the abrupt change from a system of full exemption of duty on all tsunami-related items to a return to the status quo with additional procedures and clearance forms has caused confusion. NGOs are being asked to pay full duty on the relief items brought in as of last week. The Humanitarian Coordinator and the bilaterals are being requested by the NGOs to take up this issue with the GoSL.

Communications

There has been a series of negative articles about the UN linking scandals related to oil for food and sexual exploitation by peacekeepers in the DRC internationally to the need to regulate the UN locally. The issue of high UN salaries, high overhead costs, the alleged pro-LTTE bias of the UN are all issues that have been highlighted.

Security

Half of the tsunami affected districts are Phase III areas. With the need to respond urgently to the tsunami, a number of UN agencies have expanded operations but do not yet have the necessary vehicles and radios to do so in a fully MOSS compliant way. A number of UN agencies have vehicles and equipment that are still in customs or are being placed on order. In reviewing the security situation and the potential threat in Phase III and the need for the UN to provide immediate assistance in the affected areas, the DO, in consultation with the SMT, agreed to seek the clearance to travel into Phase III with a satellite telephone on board as the emergency communication link. UNSECOORD in New York considered the SMT’s request and decided to grant the necessary clearance limited to one month only from 14 February 2005. This special permission to travel with a satellite phone on board as opposed to HF and VHF radios is subject to special communication and regular checking in procedures set by the SMT.

Next Sitrep:

Monday, 28 February 2005