15 - 22 February 2007
KILINOCHCHI & MULLAITIVU DISTRICTS
Situation update
The Commissioner General for Essential Services (CGES) has approved the fuel quota for UN agencies working in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts for February 2007. A total of 11,980 liter of diesel and 1,042 liter of petrol has been approved out of the requested amount of 30,000 liter of diesel and 1,000 liter of petrol submitted by the UN. The quota has been significantly reduced without prior consultation with the UN. However, the Ministry of Defense has yet to inform the local area commander so clearance can be obtained to transport it to Kilinochchi.
On 20 February, local media reported aerial attacks in the Parasankulam area. Two people were reportedly killed.
During the course of the week, a total of 382,800 liters of kerosene out of the February allocation of 700,000 liters was transported from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi by the district MPCSs (Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society) for general public consumption.
Internally Displaced Persons
The total number of IDPs in Kilinochchi remains at 45, 665 persons (11,663 families).
Sector Response
Shelter
To date, DRC (Danish Refugee Council) has completed 164 temporary shelters out of a planned 500 in various locations in Kilinochchi district while 153 temporary shelters are under construction.
Solidar through RRDO (Rural Rehabilitation and Development Organization) has completed 90 temporary shelters out of a planned 115 for the IDPs living in Kumarapuram and Umaiyalpuram villages in Kilinochchi district.
Water and Sanitation
The MOH (Medical Officer of Health) Kilinochchi opened a water testing unit at their office in Kilinochchi town last week to test the purity/quality of drinking water providing the local population with a water testing service through the MOH office.
Using the quota approved for the GA Kilinochchi office, Caritas/Hudec brought temporary toilet construction items (except cement) to build 250 temporary toilets. SOLIDAR is upgrading and repairing 306 temporary latrines in various communal places and new IDP settlements which were built after the displacement in August 2006.
Education
In order to provide educational supplies for conflict affected school children, Caritas/Hudec has provided school stationeries for 1,000 children from Vavuniya, on 17 February. 900 students including 250 IDPs children studying in the Akkarayan GTMS have also benefited from SCiSL school stationeries.
Solidar has started on work to provide temporary arrangements for the 150 displaced students at the Chundikkulam School been registered since September 2006.
NFRIs
Distribution of NFRIs continues with various organizations such as World Vision, Care and Hudec- Caritas distributing to IDP families in Vaddakkachchi area, Thirunagar south (Kilinochchi) and Konivil village (Kilinochchi]).
On 16 February Hudec-Caritas transported food items for 500 families (sufficient for one week) and NFRIs through the Omanthai FDL.
Protection
Oxfam on the basis of their assessment conducted last week among the IDP community living in the Vaddakkachchi area (Kilinochchi) has supplied baby kits to15 displaced lactating mothers living with host families.
Health and Nutrition
UNICEF conducted a field assessment on hygiene and general watsan needs in Madhu AGA division. UNICEF has pre-positioned 2,000 hygiene kits for contingency purposes. 17 wheel chairs were also distributed to DPDHS Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu on 15 February for emergency pre-positioning at the hospitals.
SOLIDAR, with the approval of ZDE (Zonal Director of Education) and DPDHS of Kilinochchi, and in partnership with UNICEF, has conducted the Hygiene Information Project (HIP) for 2,200 students from 6 schools in Kilinochchi (Ramanathapuram MV, Kilinochchi Hindu College, Oottupulam GTMS, Sivapathakalaiyaham GTMS, Murukanantha MV & Jeyapuram MV) within last two weeks.
To promote the rural health facilities and to monitor the health conditions of IDPs locations, UNICEF has provided 50 bicycles to health animators who are working with DPDHS-Kilinochchi last week.
Food
In order to supply the dry rations for recently displaced people living in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, WFP with the support of GAs of both districts has locally purchased 700 MT red rice for Kilinochchi and 200 MT red rice for Mullaitivu this week. Since 10 February a total of 83 MT of sugar, 65 MT of pulses, 57 MT of NFRIs, 17 MT of dhal, 4.521 MT of soap items, 2.26 MT of milk food and 0.75 MT of wheat flour has been transported for general public consumption by MPCS.
In Jaffna, FAO through its implementing partners, has completed its distribution of black gram, green gram, gingelly and assorted vegetable seeds to a total of 3630 vulnerable beneficiaries . These beneficiaries have also completed the first training module in Improved Agriculture Techniques, funded by FAO and carried out by the Department of Agriculture.