This report covers the period from 12 to 13 May 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 14 May.
I. Highlights
- On 12 May, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, expressed her concerns at the deteriorating crisis and its serious toll on children.
- The ICRC confirmed in a press release that a staff member and his mother were killed by shrapnel today in the conflict zone. A Caritas Australia staff member was killed in a shell attack in the conflict zone on 8 May.
- Cases of chicken pox in Vavuniya have reached a cumulative total of 9,842 cases as of 11 May.
- On 12 May, CDMA mobile phones were provided to 8 out of 12 IDP sites in Jaffna. Banking and postal facilities have been made available in all 12 IDP sites in this district.
II. Access & Security
- Fighting continues between the Government forces and the LTTE in the conflict zone.
- On 13 May, ICRC announced that one of its staff members was killed by shrapnel near Mullivaikal and that his mother also died in the same incident. This is the third time in just over two months that an ICRC employee has been killed inside the conflict zone. A Caritas Australia staff member was killed in a shell attack in the conflict zone on 8 May.
III. Situation Overview
IDPs |
During the period 27
October 2008 to 12 May 2009 | 197,851 people crossed to the Government-controlled areas from the conflict zone.
This represents an increase of 1,707 IDPs since the situation report
of 12 May 2009. The increase is mainly due to improved,
systematic registration being undertaken in the camps. |
Vavuniya Camps:
Mannar Camps:
Jaffna Camps:
Trincomalee Camps: | 178,523(1)
52(2)
11,079(3)
6,179 | 195,833 people are accommodated in temporary camps. |
| Hospitals: | 1,918(4) IDPs (injured and caregivers) are in hospitals in various districts(5) as of 12 May 2009. |
Releases |
Vavuniya Camps:
Mannar Camps:
Jaffna Camps: | 1,468
4
42 | 1,515 people have been released from temporary camps into host
families and elders’ homes as of 12 May 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 zone. |
- On 12 May, at least 108 IDPs are reported to have arrived at Omanthai from the conflict zone.
- In Trincomalee, at least 1,732 IDPs (498 families) were moved from the Pulmoddai Muslim School to the 13th Mile Post IDP site in order to allow for the school to return to its regular functions. Local authorities also plan to move IDPs from Arafat Muslim School to the 13th Mile Post IDP site this week.
IV. Humanitarian Response
Food
- On 13 May, a ship carrying 25MT of food under the ICRC flag reached Mullaithivu and is currently awaiting discharge. This shipment left Trincomalee on 12 May, but returned due to security concerns.
- In Vavuniya, the Food cluster reported that the community kitchen constructed at Omanthai crossing point and equipped by WFP, Sewalanka Foundation and IOM is now ready to feed at least 5,000 people at a time.
Shelter
- In Vavuniya, the Shelter Coordination Cell decided that IOM will continue construction work in the first 100 acres on Menik Farm zone 4, where approximately 2,500 tents will be erected. UNHCR and UNOPS will take over the development of the additional 100 acres of land allocated by the Government that is currently being cleared by the security forces. As of 13 May, at least 523 emergency shelters have been constructed by IOM in Menik Farm zone 4.
WASH
- In Jaffna, the WASH Cluster reports that currently an average of 14.8 liters of drinking water per person per day is available at all IDP sites, while the total water storage capacity in all sites is 164,000 liters.
- In Jaffna, as of 13 May, a total of 290 toilets are available for the use of IDPs, which is approximately 1 toilet for 38 IDPs.
- In Jaffna, the Government Agent's (GA) office informed that two additional water bowsers and three gully suckers are needed to provide sufficient facilities to all IDP camps.
Health
- On 12 May, the Competent Authority (CA) in Vavuniya announced that a military medical doctor will be deployed to Menik Farm to endorse medical evacuations and authorize referrals.
- On 12 May, the Health cluster in Vavuniya informed that in Menik Farm zone 2, around 30 percent of children under 5 years reportedly suffer from moderate malnutrition, while 20 percent suffer from acute malnutrition.
- As of 11 May, a cumulative total of 9,842 cases of chicken pox have been reported in Vavuniya. The cases have increased due to the recent influx of IDPs in camps. While the number is quite alarming, humanitarian agencies inform that the chicken pox are non-threatening to the lives of identified patients.
- In Jaffna, Government authorities have agreed to allow pregnant women with relatives in the district to be accommodated by host families after 36 weeks of pregnancy for up to three months after child birth. Pregnant women should make an official request in advance to the Jaffna Security Forces Commander through the government authorities. The Regional Department of Health Services (RDHS) is currently renovating a maternity ward in Varani to cater for pregnant women.
- In Jaffna, a de-worming programme in all IDP camps for children under 15 years was completed yesterday. Testing for Malaria, dengue and other infections is ongoing to treat the identified cases.
Education
- As of 12 May, 35 Temporary Learning Spaces (TLSs) were constructed in nine schools used as IDP sites in Vavuniya by Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCiSL), Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and ZOA Refugee Care. In addition, out of the total commitment of 56 TLSs in Menik Farm zone 3, at least 29 were completed by various actors (18 by SDS/UNICEF, 7 by SCiSL/UNICEF and 4 by ZOA). Fifteen are already being used by an estimated 3,000 displaced students.
- In Jaffna, at least 876 IDP students in the camps are attending either local schools or TLS facilities. This represents 32 percent of the total of 2,753 children of school-age in the IDP camps. The Education cluster is working to complete TLS facilities for the remaining 1,877 students.
Protection
- In Vavuniya, special ID cards will be issued to IDPs by Government authorities once the registration process is completed. These ID cards will allow IDPs to travel outside of the camps for employment, purchasing provisions, etc. Currently, over 20,000 IDPs have already registered for IDs and the process is ongoing.
- In Vavuniya, during a general coordination meeting held on 12 May, the Competent Authority (CA) requested staff in charge of IDP registration in the Government Agent's (GA) office to speed up the identification and registration of government officials and university students currently living in IDP camps.
V. Coordination
- On 12 May, the Jaffna Government Authority held a coordination meeting to discuss gaps and developments in Vanni IDP camps. During this meeting, humanitarian agencies and government departments discussed needs and plans of action for the IDP camps.
- An inter-agency meeting on Sri Lanka linking representatives from Sri Lanka, Geneva and New York was held on 13 May 2009.
VI. Communication / Advocacy
- On 12 May, UNICEF's Executive Director Ann M. Veneman issued a statement emphasizing the impact of the ongoing conflict on children, who as a result are lacking adequate access to medicine, water and food. UNICEF called on both parties to show maximum restraint and to ensure the protection of civilians.
- On 12 May, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, expressed her concerns about the deteriorating crisis and its serious toll on children. The Special Representative is negotiating with the Government to allow a Special Envoy to visit Sri Lanka to assess firsthand the situation of children who are caught in the crossfire.
- On 12 May, the US Secretary of State and the British Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement, calling on the Government and the LTTE to allow a UN humanitarian team to visit the conflict zone to facilitate the safe evacuation of civilians. They also urged both sides to allow food and medical assistance to reach those trapped by fighting, cooperate with the ICRC to facilitate the evacuation of urgent medical cases, ensure the safety of aid and medical workers, and permit humanitarian access to all sites where displaced persons are being registered or being provided shelter.
VII. Funding / CHAP
- On 12 May, the Government of the Republic of Korea announced a grant of US$ 500,000 through the WFP to meet the immediate needs of IDPs in conflict-affected areas of the North and East of Sri Lanka.
- As of 13 May, the 2009 CHAP for Sri Lanka remains at 32 percent funded, with US$ 49,719,600 received out of the US$ 155,112,600 required. In addition, US$ 17,921,820 has been pledged by various donors, which would bring the funding to 40%.
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
