Trincomalee District #14
I. Situation Update
Security remains tense with continued artillery shelling in the district.
There are now reportedly 54,230 IDPs spread across 59 sites in Trincomalee district. There are still no verified figures for the number of IDPs trapped in LTTE-controlled areas of Eachchilampattai with estimates ranging from 5-15,000 IDPs. There are reports of people still arriving daily to IDP sites in Trincomalee town.
The Muttur Divisional Secretary has said that around 100 families have now returned to Muttur. In the absence of enough government workers, the NGO CTF has mobilized 10 volunteers to help the local government office resume its work. Basic food items have been distributed and basic registration is taking place of the IDPs.
II. Sector Response
Camp management
The school buildings being used to accommodate IDPs in Trincomalee town are at full capacity and there is growing concern that new space will need to be found if the number of new arrivals keeps rising.
The Trincomalee police have given a schedule to the Divisional Secretary to conduct visits of IDP sites in the town to verify the loss of identity cards so new ones can be issued.
An operational plan has now been devised for the expansion of the two IDP sites in Kantalai.
NFRI
There is thought to be reasonably good coverage now of NFRIs assistance in Kantalai, Trincomalee and Kinniya. Some agencies have circumvented agreed common distribution mechanisms, however, and identifying gaps is not easy. Agencies are working to gather information on what has now been distributed to ensure there is equity in distribution.
Watsan
Muslim Aid International (MAI) has provided a water bowser to supply operate in Muttur supplying to two IDP sites in Puchanoor, Muttur.
A timetable has been devised to help coordinate water trucking to IDP sites in Trincomalee town.
Health
The health sector group is planning to assess IDP sites to provide better facilities for administering medical services, including installing tents and other items.
Preparations are underway to conduct vaccinations in the IDP sites.
Training is being organized for those with limited medical skills to help augment the number of available staff for mobile clinics.
Food
The Government Agent has requested the WFP to supply 2 more weeks of food rations for the IDPs, which will be distributed on week-by-week basis.
IDPs in sites near Thampalakamam have requested individual cooking pots instead of the communal cooking arrangements.
Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts
I. Situation Update
The depletion of the current food, fuel and NFRIs stock in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts continues to be of great concern to humanitarian agencies and the GA. The current food and fuel stock in the area can be used only for the coming 6 days.
The ICRC convoy that was hoped to travel to Vavuniya with humanitarian workers from Kilinochchi has been postponed to Monday, 21st August. The ICRC vehicle from Vavuniya with medical supplies has been unable to cross the border yesterday.
Internally Displaced Persons
There are around 43 welfare centers in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, North Vavuniya and LTTE controlled Jaffna. 33 of these are in Kilinochchi district.
There is a total of 500 families (1941 persons) in Mullaitivu district displaced as a result of recent violence in the area. 146 families living in communal areas as reported by the GA.
Due to the current situation, ICRC has been requested to conduct an assessment in the two welfare centers in LTTE controlled Jaffna (Kevil GTMS and Pullaveli church). It is estimated by the GA that there are 179 families of IDP in the areas. In present situation, it is difficult to conduct an assessment and it is also possible that these families have moved further down due to the current shelling in the area.
II. Sector Response
NFRI
505 families (living outside of a school, church and temples including under trees) in Poonagary and Karachchi AGA division have received NFRI yesterday and all the 20 sites in Kilinochchi named by the GA have been assessed and NFRIs distributed. The movement of IDPs between camps/sites is a challenge for NRFIs assistance. Daily assessments are being undertaken by agencies and NFRIs are distributed the next day if new IDPs are found.
All the 5 locations of the currently displaced living in communal areas in Mullaitivu have been assessed and NFRIs has been provided to those in the locations. Assessments will be conducted to identify new locations for IDPs.
WatSan
Oxfam has supplied one 5000 liters water tank to Kilinochchi hospital today. Another 5 UNICEF tanks (1000 liters each) will also be sent to Poonagary division today. It is pointed out by UNICEF that there are not enough tanks in their stock and it is very important to get more from Vavuniya as soon as possible.
The GA has assigned one bowser to supply water to the current IDP locations in Poonagary district, which are in shortage of water supplies for the last three to four days. One bowser has also been assigned to Kilinochchi hospital.
UNICEF is currently facilitating with other agencies including Solidar and UNOPS to provide 300 temporary toilets for the recently displaced people living in communal area and under the trees.
ZoA and FORUT has built temporary toilets in 3 schools.
Health
There are not enough medical supplies/equipments in hospitals and it is reported by the DPDHS that three children died of lack of ventilation facilities after a major surgical operation.
Two surgeons and one nurse from German Red Cross in Mullaitivu have arrived in Kilinochchi hospital yesterday to help with the current severe shortage of medical personnel in the hospital. MSF has also agreed to send two surgeons to Kilinochchi but the current closure of the border is a major problem to get the doctors in to Vanni.
Food
According to the GA 233 MT of sugar and 64 MT of dhal have not able to cross reach from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi due to the border closure.
Some International agencies have expressed their concern that their staff members will run out of food supply and requested WFP if they can provide food.
Batticaloa District
I. Situation up-date
Security remains tense with continued shelling in the district.
A Rapid Needs Assessment was carried out on the 17th August 06 in Vaharai Division by UN team consisting of WFP, UNHCR, IOM, UNICEF, UNOPS and OCHA. The Divisional Secretary reported that 750 families had registered in Kandalady and 1469 families (5938 individuals) in Kathiravelly as of 16th August. The population of IDPs is expected to increase as a result of continuous shelling and air strikes in Trincomalee.
On Thursday, 17th Augus seven points of procedure concerning movement and access to Vaharai were addressed with local authorities including the GA.
The UNFP reported the UN convoy scheduled for 19th August will not proceed due to security reasons.
II. Sector response
Watsan
There is a need for a large scale sanitation response but organizations are finding it hard to assist as a result of limited access. It is reported that in the Vamivettuvan school around 2,900 families are using 10 toilets.
Health
The DPDHS restarted their mobile health clinic since 17th of August 2006, at the Kathiravelly School and Sri Lankan/Italian Red Cross Hospital in Vaharai is functioning with one doctor who is an IDP. Medical assistance by the Italian Red Cross hospital and DPDHS are insufficient for this huge IDP community.
Food
The TRO had informed that they will stop their supply of food and rations on the 17th August. The GA informed that they will provide WFP rations from 18th onwards.
Jaffna District
I. Situation up-date
Today 18 Aug, the UN (UNOPS, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP) has assisted the Government Agent in Jaffna in organizing the government food convoy to various MPCS in Jaffna using UNHCR (2 trucks), and Halo Trust (4 trucks & 1 trailer). .
Tomorrow, 19 Aug, food commodities will be delivered to various MPCS in the islands and Karaveddy. The food commodities will ensure short term food needs of approx 600,000 people in Jaffna (175,999 families). (See table on next page)
Official Displacement Figures as of 17August 2006
Location
|
Number of Families
|
Number of Individuals
|
Island North (Kayts) |
695
|
2,850
|
Karainagar |
52
|
197
|
Jaffna |
5,949
|
24,862
|
Island South (Velanai) |
982
|
3,796
|
Nallur |
120
|
454
|
Valikamam West (Chankanai) |
8
|
31
|
Thenmaradchy (Chavakactcheri) |
2,450
|
8,727
|
Vadamaradchi South West (Karaveddy) |
235
|
915
|
Total |
10,491
|
41,832
|
Source: Government Agent, Jaffna
Details of the food deliveries as follows:
Division
|
Families
|
Rice (kg)
|
Sugar (kg)
|
Dhal (kg)
|
Canned Fish (no)
|
Delft |
1,705
|
4,300
|
3,425
|
-
|
1,200
|
Island South Velani |
4,400
|
11,000
|
8,800
|
300
|
3,100
|
Island North Kayts |
4,224
|
10,550
|
8,450
|
350
|
3,000
|
Karinagar |
3,361
|
8,450
|
6,725
|
50
|
2,450
|
Jaffna |
14,547
|
36,400
|
39,100
|
3,950
|
10,200
|
Nallur |
19,354
|
48,400
|
38,725
|
100
|
13,550
|
Valvai West Sandilapay |
14,950
|
37,400
|
29,900
|
-
|
10,500
|
Valvai West Chankanai |
13,929
|
34,900
|
27,925
|
-
|
9,750
|
Valvai South Udivil |
17,066
|
42,700
|
34,150
|
-
|
11,950
|
Valvai North Thellapalai |
7,151
|
17,900
|
14,325
|
-
|
5000
|
Vali East Kopay |
21,032
|
52,600
|
42,075
|
-
|
14,700
|
Thenmaradcchy |
20,515
|
51,300
|
41,050
|
50
|
14,350
|
Vada South West Karaveddy |
14,355
|
35,900
|
28,725
|
350
|
10,050
|
Vada North PPD |
14,820
|
37,050
|
29,675
|
-
|
10,400
|
Vada East Mauretenkerny |
4,590
|
11,500
|
9,200
|
-
|
3,250
|
Total |
175,999
|
440,350
|
362,250
|
5,150
|
123,450
|