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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Vanni Emergency OCHA Situation Report No. 17

Attachments

This report covers the period from 22 to 25 May 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 27 May.

I. Highlights

- United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon visited Sri Lanka from 22 to 23 May and met the Sri Lankan President, senior government officials and humanitarian actors.

- The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on 26 May to discuss the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

II. Access & Security

- In Vavuniya, access to Menik Farm remains restricted for humanitarian agencies. Limited movements continue in zone 4 to support the erection of tents, ongoing sanitation work and food distribution.

- In Vavuniya on 23 May, the Competent Authority (CA) put in place procedures for UN and I/NGO national staff entering the Menik Farm IDP site. Temporary ID cards will be issued for national staff entering the camp and they will be required to leave these cards at the gate and retrieve them when exiting the camp. International staff can enter the camp by showing their official IDs and will not have to leave them at the entrance.

III. Situation Overview

IDPs
During the period 27 October 2008
to 22 May 2009
286,721 persons crossed to the Government controlled areas from the conflict zone.
This represents an increase of 14,940 IDPs since the last report (Sitrep No.16) on 21 May 2009. The increase is mainly due to improved, systematic registration being undertaken in the camps.
Vavuniya Camps:
Mannar Camps:
Jaffna Camps:
Trincomalee Camps:
266,536(1)
140(2)
11,086(3)
6,642
284,404 people are accommodated in temporary camps.
Hospitals: 2,317(4) IDPs (injured and care givers) are in hospitals in various districts(5) as of 18 May 2009.
RELEASES
Vavuniya Camps:
Mannar Camps:
Jaffna Camps:
1,489
5
43
1,537 people have been released from temporary camps into host families and elders' homes as of 21 May 2009. The majority of these people are elderly, mentally challenged individuals and other vulnerable groups.

IV. Humanitarian Response

Food

- In Vavuniya, WFP distributed 1,618.097MT of basic food items in the district during the period 1 to 21 May 2009.

- In Vavuniya, agencies providing support for cooking meals in IDP sites in the district agreed last week to extend their services till 31 May. Caritas Valvuthoyam has resources to continue community feeding until 15 June.

Shelter

- In Vavuniya, as of 24 May, 2,248 tents were erected in Menik Farm zone 4.

- In Jaffna, IOM completed 102 emergency shelters at the Kodikamam Ramavil site B and C. The site will have the capacity to accommodate a total of 600 emergency shelters once clearing and leveling is completed. Several agencies, including Sewa Lanka, JASC, Lanka Evangelical Alliance Development Service (LEADS) and ZOA Refugee Care will provide materials for construction.

WASH

- In Vavuniya the WASH cluster has identified a need to make special provisions for latrines for vulnerable people in Menik Farm zone 3. Six hundred vulnerable people have been identified in the zone.

- In Vavuniya, on 21 May OXFAM committed to constructing 200 emergency latrines in Menik Farm zone 4. Solidar, IOM, UNOPS and CARE are already providing WASH facilities in this zone.

- In Vavuniya, as of 21 May, 60 trench latrines, 76 emergency latrines and 11 bathing spaces were erected in Menik Farm zone 4. 103 water tanks with a capacity of 1,000 liters each have also been placed there.

- In zones 1 and 2 of Menik Farm, 260 volunteers have been selected from within the IDP community to work as hygiene promoters and hygiene promotion activities have started.

- In Vavuniya, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) announced that the 'Malvathu Oya' water supply project will be operational from 29 May. The project will provide water to Menik Farm zone 1, 2 & 3.

- In Vavuniya, the provision of sanitation facilities in Menik Farm zone 4 has been extended by several actors. Oxfam will provide 300 additional emergency latrines while UNOPS and IOM completed 34 emergency latrines during the last week.

- In Jaffna, IOM provided a 13,250 litre water bowser and a 6,000 litres gully sucker to the Government Agent's (GA) office to support WASH activities in IDP camps. IOM will also cover running costs for two months with possible extension.

Health

- In Mannar, the Government hospital is facing a shortage of staff to treat new admissions of more than 1,500 injured IDPs from the conflict zone.

- On 22 May, the Indian Government dispatched a team of 27 doctors and paramedics to northern Sri Lanka to support IDPs. The medical team includes a surgeon and pediatrician. The team will also bring about 30MT of medicines worth more than US$ 63,500 (INR 3 million) to replenish stores at the Field Hospital run by the Indian Armed Forces in Pulmoddai.

Disclaimer

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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