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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Vanni Emergency OCHA Situation Report No. 8

Attachments

This report covers the period from 06 to 07 May 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 11 May.

I. Highlights

- An ICRC chartered ferry delivered 25 metric tons of WFP food and some medicine to Mullavaikkal in the conflict zone on 7 May 2009. The ICRC ferry was also used to evacuate 495 people from the area. For seven days prior to this operation security constraints had prevented the ICRC from reaching the conflict zone.

- UNHCR was engaged in a two day exercise to allocate 300 emergency shelter to Persons with Specific Needs (PWSN) close to medical and water and sanitation facilities in Menik Farm Zone 2.

- ICRC will start distributing food and NFI packs donated by the Government of India for 20,000 displaced families in Menik Farm.

- On 6 May, MSF France started the construction of a field hospital in the Menik Farm IDP site, following authorization by the Ministry of Health.

II. Access & Security

- Sri Lankan security forces continue operations in the conflict zone.

- According to the ICRC, heavy fighting is taking place near the medical assembly point at Mullavaikkal.

III. Situation Overview

IDPs
During the period 27 October 2008 to 07 May 2009 196,044 persons
crossed to the Government controlled areas from the conflict zone.This represents an increase of 3,950 IDPs since the last report (Sitrep No.7) on 06 May 2009. The increase is mainly due to improved, systematic registration being undertaken in the camps. An estimated 144,000 people have arrived from the conflict zone in Vavuniya, Jaffna, and Trincomalee since 20 April 2009.
Vavuniya Camps:
Mannar Camps:
Jaffna Camps:
Trincomalee Camps:
177,482(1)
52(2)
11,089(3)
5,680
194,303 people are accommodated in temporary camps.
Hospitals: 1,741(4) IDPs (injured and care givers) are in hospitals in various districts(5) as of 07 May 2009.
RELEASES
Vavuniya Camps:
Mannar Camps:
Jaffna Camps:
1,146
4
102

1,252 people have been released from temporary camps into host families and elders' homes as of 28 April 2009. The majority of
these people are elders, mentally challenged individuals and other vulnerable groups.
The UN estimates that at least 50,000 people are still trapped inside the conflict

IV. Humanitarian Response

Food

- Clarification on the Jaffna food information published in Sit Rep #7: ZOA Refugee Care, IOM and the Lanka Evangelical Alliance Development Service (LEADS) agreed to build 3 community kitchens for "Kodikamam Forest" site A. These kitchens will provide combined community cooking facilities for around 2,100-2,400 IDPs (each kitchen will provide facilities for 700-800 people). WFP has conducted an initial assessment along with ZOA, IOM, LEADS and UNHCR to determine the best location for the construction of these kitchens.

Shelter

- Humanitarian agencies continue to advocate for accommodation of IDPs with host families and urge the authorities to open further adequate sites in other locations in order to relieve congestion in zone 2 and 3. According to a UNHCR random household survey in zone 3, on average each emergency shelter unit contains 6 individuals/2 families with some units containing up to 12 individuals/2 families. The recommended capacity for one emergency shelter is persons.

- As of 6 May, authorities in charge of land clearing and preparation at Menik Farm zone 4 report that out of the total area of 950 acres of land, 40 acres have been cleared and 2,500 meters of internal roads have been formed. It is expected that 100 acres will be cleared by 10 May. While humanitarian agencies welcome the Government's efforts to make more land available, they have urged the Government to ensure that specific, internationally recognized standards are followed.

- ShelterBox, an international charity, announced that it has sent a consignment of 448 "ShelterBoxes" due to arrive on 8 May. Each "ShelterBox" contains a 10 person tent, blankets, water purification and cooking equipment, basic tools, a stove and other essential equipment.

Health

- In Trincomalee, 10 new cases of chicken pox have been reported (6 in Sinhala MV, 3 in Arafat School and 1 in Muslim MV). Mini medical centres are functioning in the 3 camps in Pulmoddai, with medical staff regularly visiting IDPs on a rotational basis, in addition to the Indian medical team. However, due to the large numbers of patients, health capacity is overstretched. The establishment of a mental health clinic has been suggested by a Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health as many patients show trauma and stress disorders.

- On 6 May, MSF France started the construction of a field hospital in the Menik Farm IDP site, following authorization by the Ministry of Health.

- Medical Teams International has reported that the Government of Sri Lanka has requested it to mobilise 20 ambulances and 40 health care workers who were trained after the Tsunami of 2005.

WASH

- The three IDP sites in Pulmoddai collectively have 66 toilets (21 existing and 45 newly constructed) for a total of 5,678 individuals (80 people per toilet).

- In Trincomalee, a total of eighteen 1,000 litre water tanks and one 5,000 litre tank are installed in the 3 camps. The tanks are filled twice a day for drinking and cooking purposes of the 5,680 IDPs while water for bathing is provided separately.

- In Trincomalee, the construction of one dug well is completed and three more are in process. The WASH cluster has completed the construction of 50 toilets and is building an additional 70. In addition, one bathing area is completed and four more are in process. The need for additional workers has been identified to maintain adequate sanitary conditions in the IDP sites. Workers are required for activities such as garbage disposal, drainage and toilet cleaning.

- In Jaffna, the WASH cluster reports that there is still a gap in the number of water bowers and gully suckers available in the district

- In Jaffna, the National Water Supply & Drainage Board completed a pipe line to supply drinking and bathing water to the Palmyrah Research Institute (PRI) camps A and B. However, water quantity reportedly needs to be increased.

Education

- In Jaffna, the Education cluster announced that UNICEF will build a Temporary Learning Space (TLS) for 550 children from the Mirusuvil IDP camp. The TLS is due to open on 11 May. Another TLS is being built by Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCiSL) and UNICEF for 600 children from the Kaithady IDP camps and is due to open on 12 May.

- WASH services for the TLS in Jaffna will be provided by UNICEF and Sewalanka; furniture will be provided by the Education Department and Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCiSL); stationery, text books and uniforms will be provided by UNICEF and SCiSL; tailoring charge and school bags will be provided by Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS); shoes will be provided by JRS and SCiSL. WFP will provide mid morning meals under its "School Feeding Programme". CARITAS will provide complementary food items (vegetables) and Lanka Evangelical Alliance Development Service (LEADS) will build kitchens and provide necessary cooking utilities.

Protection

- Protection agencies conducted a survey of 100 randomly selected shelters in zone 3 of Menik Farm, which showed that 72 per cent of the interviewees were separated from family members in some way while trying to flee the conflict zone. In addition, 22 per cent of the families reported that an immediate family member had died and some 15 per cent of the households were female headed.

- As family separation continues to be reported in Vavuniya, assembly points to assist lost children have been built in parts of Menik Farm zone 2. Teachers are spreading the message that children should be taught to look for these assembly points if they get lost.

- UNHCR was engaged in a two day exercise to allocate 300 emergency shelter to Persons with Specific Needs (PWSN) close to medical and water and sanitation facilities in Menik Farm Zone 2 and is now working with the local authorities to transfer identified PWSN to those sites.

- In Jaffna, Sarvodaya, in partnership with UNICEF, has conducted a Mine Risk Education programme for 100 contract workers of the organizations JASC and Sewalanka. The workers are engaged in construction work in the "Kodikamam Forest" IDP site, following a Battle Area Clearance operation by the Danish Demining Group (DDG).

V. Funding / CHAP

- The Italian Government has announced the release of EUR 400,000 in support of food related activities implemented through WFP. The funds are allocated against the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) for Sri Lanka.

- As of 07 May, the CHAP for 2009 is 32% funded (US$ 49,719,611 out of $155,112,669)

All humanitarian partners including donors and recipient agencies are encouraged to inform FTS of cash and in-kind contributions by sending an email to: fts@reliefweb.int.

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

Notes:
(1) Source: Government, UNHCR (Vavuniya) and Divisional Secretary Vavuniya (DS VA)
(2) Source: Assistant Project Director Office (PDA Office Kachcheri)
(3) Source: GA office (Jaffna)
(4) Source: Programme Coordinator (GH Trincomalee)
(5) This includes General Hospital Trincomalee, Base Hospital Kanthalai, Peripheral Unit Thampalakamam, Field Hospital Pulmoddai, Base Hospital Padaviya, National Hospital Colombo, Teaching Hospital Kandy, Cancer Hospital Maharagama, General Hospital

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