KILINOCHCHI & MULLAITIVU DISTRICTS
Situation update
Shelling continues around the Muhamalai FDL (Forward Defence Line), Vadamarachchi East and Poonakary and aerial bombardments in several places over the week.
MSF (Medecins San Frontieres) opened an office in Kilinochchi this week.
The Lack of fuel supply is a growing concern for the UN agencies and the INGOs in Kilinochchi as the last consignment received for the UN was 50 per cent of the March quota.
Internally Displaced Persons
New displacement continues, albeit in small numbers. The new displacement is mainly taking place in Mullaitivu District, particularly to Manthai East. Overall, however, Kilinochchi District has more IDPs since April 2006. The most recent arrivals to Kilinochchi District are from Mannar District, e.g. 20 families arriving to Kandawalai Division, or from Jaffna District (through ship from Trincomalee).
Sector Response
Shelter
Under the UNHCR's 2007 shelter assistance programme, FORUT and UNOPS will construct 100 shelters in Thunukkai AGA Division and 250 shelters in Karachchi and Poonakary AGA Divisions focusing on IDPs with host families.
In Mullaitivu district, construction work on 45 temporary shelters out of a committed 295 and in Kilinochchi district, work on 67 temporary shelters out of a committed 355 is ongoing through Oxfam funds.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) brought one lorry load of jungle poles and cadjan for its ongoing temporary shelter programmes in Kilinochchi district on 12 May.
Education
Caritas - Hudec under the guidance of the Zonal Director of Education (ZDE) Kilinochchi distributed exercise books to 527 displaced children studying at the Vaddakkachchi MV and Therankandal GTMS (Government Tamil Mixed School) on 14 and 15 May.
ZDE Kilinochchi reports that 8,624 displaced students have been enrolled in schools functioning in Kilinochchi districts since August 2006.
NFRIs
Oxfam through its NFRI distribution assisted eight displaced families settled in Ramanathapuram [Kilinochchi] on 12 May.
Health
775 IDP families from the Periyamadu and Pallamadu areas [Manthai west division of Mannar] were given hygiene kits by DRC on 14 & 15 May.
Oxfam organized a one-day training for 55 persons of the Karachchi and Kandawalai health department on 'Public Health Promotion' on 12 May.
80 per cent of the construction work of the Arasapuram government dispensary is complete.
Food
On 14 &15 May, DRC distributed supplementary food packages to 775 families displaced from areas close to the Mannar and Vavuniya FDLs, who are now settled in the Periyamadu and Pallamadu areas.
On 15 May, WFP transported 15 MT of dhal to Kilinochchi for its dry ration distribution.
Food Security
On 16 May, FAO through the Fishermen Corporative Federation and in partnership with the Government Agent of Kilinochchi distributed nets to 100 displaced fishers settled in Poonakary division, Kilinochchi.
TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT
Situation Update
NTR
Internally Displaced Persons
The Muttur DS stated that 115 families have signed a letter of willingness to return if certain conditions including housing, toilets, a police post, school and health facilities and repairs to the local ferry are met by authorities. Both the ICRC and UNHCR reiterated their assistance to returns if they are voluntary.
As of 14 May, DS Muttur reports that 436 families (1,328 persons) out of the 1,612 families (5,300 persons) who arrived at the Kiliveddy Transit Sites have been resettled or are staying with friends and relatives while 1,176 families (3,942 persons) remain at the welfare center.
Sector Response
Shelter
The DS of Muttur has agreed to assign a Camp Manager to each site at Kiliveddy.
The Kiliveddy Transit Sites remain overcrowded. Authorities have set up a number of tents to ease the situation.
Technical assessments have been made in the Plot A and Mannachenai sites in Kiliveddy to allow for NRC funded drainage interventions to be made.
The NRC Care and Maintenance team is focusing the majority of its activities on relocating families in Kinniya and Town and Gravets from tsunami transitional shelter sites (TSS) onto their own land or that of family members whilst permanent house construction is ongoing. NRC is decommissioning the vacated sites and removing debris and unused facilities to allow the lands to be used once more for their original pre-tsunami purpose.
The DS of Town and Gravets has given the go ahead for repairs to be done on Hindu Cultural Hall where most of the remaining IDPs from sites in Town and Gravets have gathered.
Protection
UNHCR is taking up protection concerns of the population living in two churches in Muttur with the DS, GA and the SLA.
Education
UNICEF reports that 80-85 per cent of children in Kiliveddy are now enrolled in school.
PIN under a vocational training programme has trained 60 persons as new bus drivers in Trincomalee as response to the gap pointed out by the local authorities.
Watsan
UNICEF donated two new trucks on 15 May to complement the Municipal Authority new garbage waste management system for Trincomalee. The NGO ASM through CHAP 2007 funds, with UNICEF is constructing 100 collapsible toilets for the IDPs sites in Muttur DS Division and 40 semi-permanent toilets for IDPs residing with host families.
Agriculture and Food Security
FAO distributed vegetables and fertilizer to 35 farmers in Komburupity South last week.
FAO conducted seven nutrition training programs for 251 participants (school teachers, parents and WFP volunteers) from selected schools in Kuchchaveli division where school garden constructions is ongoing.
BATTICOLOA DISTRRICT
Situation Update
Situation remains tense.
Internally Displaced Persons
According to Government statistics, as of 11 May, the total registered IDP population in the district is 37,806 families comprising 138,597 persons.
Resettlement towards the western part of Batticaloa began on 14 May. The GA reports that 14-16 May, a total of 2,102 families (estimated 9,000 individuals) returned.
During a food security mission carried out to Vaharai on 16 May, the lack of food was again reported as the major need amongst returnees with harassment being reported as a major constraint to trade freely by fishermen.
Sector Response
Shelter
In Puthukudiyiruppu in Arayampathy division, out of the 534 temporary shelters committed by IOM, 280 shelters are 90 per cent complete while the balance 200 shelters are under construction.
Food
Regular food distribution to IDPs remains an issue with around 13,000 displaced people not receiving a regular complete food basket.
ArchenoVa distributed two week's complementary food to 137 families in Kokkuvil III camp in Manmunai North division.
Wat/San
ArchenoVa constructed 28 tube wells (TW) in Kaluwanchikudy division, nine TW in Arayampathy division and three TW in Manmunai North division. Work is underway on two newly designed bathing places in Palemeenmadu III and IV IDP camps in Manmunai North division.
Merlin constructed 12 semi-permanent toilets for the Kali Amman Kovil IDP camp in Arayampathy division.
This week Oxfam GB and partners constructed seven tube wells, 28 temporary toilets, 11 semipermanent toilets, cleaned and constructed wells, repaired seven latrines and screened wells in the district. Oxfam distributed 10 camp cleaning kits, 24 latrine-cleaning kits in Arayampathy and Kaluwanchikudy divisions.
UNDP constructed open dug wells 70 permanent latrines for host families in Maylampaveli in Chenkalady division.
This week Oxfam GB, ArcheNova/ UNICEF, World Vision, ZOA and Solidarities/UNICEF bowsered 912,000 liters of water per day in the district.
NFRI
On 10-16 May, IOM distributed seven pregnant mother kits, 332 kitchen utensils, 47 hygiene kits, 300 soap to IDPs with host families and in welfare centres in Manmunai North division.
A total of 1,458 pairs of slippers were distributed by Save the Children at 10 IDP camps in Manmunai North. On 11 May, Save the Children distributed 452 set of cloth to children at Palemeenmadu 4 IDP camp in Manmunai North division.
On 9-11 May, 1,232 families in Kaluwanchikudy division received NFRI family packs from Save the Children.
Oxfam GB distributed 181 hygiene kits, 259 food covers in Arayampathy and Kaluwanchikudy divisions.
UNICEF distributed 312 Family Emergency Kits to Kaluwanchikudy IDPs staying with host Family and 340 in Arayampathy IDPs also staying with Host Families
Protection, Psychosocial & Camp Management:
NRC conducted a workshop on Camp Management on 09 & 10 May in Arayampathy division for Camp Management agencies (WDF, Merlin, ESCO, and Sarvodaya) and IDP leaders where 21 persons participated.
On 12 May, NRC organized a Training for Trainers programme for NRC, ICLA and UNHCR staff.
Save the children distributed 6 sets of play items to the children in 5 IDPs camps in Manmunai North where daily child friendly activities take place through partner organizations.
Save the children supported a cultural program at the Saththurukondan IDP camp in Manmunai North division where 1,000 children participated.
With UNICEF support, the Center for Performing Arts conducted drama and theatre activities in 8 schools in Arayampathy division.
Sarvodaya with the support of UNICEF Mine Action Partners from Puttalam, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura and Mannar conducted Mine Risk and Safety Awareness sessions for IDPs in Kaluwanchikudi, Chenkalady & Vaharai divisions.
Education
Save the Children distributed educational kits in 10 schools to 3,800 displaced school going children in Kaluwanchikudy division during the course of the week and distributed 3,759 uniforms for displaced school going children in Kalkudah Zone.
650 emergency early childhood educational kits and 54 teachers' kits were distributed by Save the Children to displaced children through the partner organization RDPO (Rural development planning organization) in Kalkudah zone.
UNICEF distributed 23 teachers' kits, 54 school in a box kits, 368 upper primary school kits and 7 tarpaulins to 22 schools in Batticaloa Zone.
Health
Merlin deployed two mobile medical clinics in Arayampathy and Manmunai North treating over 1,000 persons and benefiting a camp population of 8,899 persons and also trained five hospital personnel on infection control practices.
Merlin has Wat/San assessments at several Maternal Child Health facilities in Arayampathy. Public Health Midwives from several medical offices of health zones received refresher training. These and other Maternal Child Health activities benefited 220 people directly.
Forty school teachers received hygiene and First Aid and classroom training while supporting Parent Teacher Association meetings and community awareness programmes.
Merlin's dental therapists working in Valachchenai and Kaluwanchikudy screened 373 and treated 148 school children, also referring 17, while there were 1,065 indirect beneficiaries in the visited schools.
On 14 May, health promotion campaign was organized by Oxfam GB in Iyankerny IDP camp.
During this week, Oxfam GB has organized street dramas in 7 IDP camps.
Hygiene promotion training was organized on 10 and 11 May by Oxfam GB, for 38 volunteers from 3 camps in Kiran and Valachchenai.
50 tubes of fly control medicine were handed over to MOH Kaluwanchchikuddy upon its request by Oxfam GB.
MOHs are conducting Anti Natal Clinics (ANC) at the IDP sites and implementing UNICEF supported Nutrition Rehabilitation Program (NRP) at all IDP sites. Up to date, 6,213 children under 5 years of age have been screened and 243 children have been identified as malnourished children and registered and treated under NRP.
Through the UNICEF supported NRP, 40 malnourished children with medical complication have been treated at the Teaching Hospital and 37 of them who reported weight gain after treatment of complications were discharged to community level program.
UNICEF supported the DPDHS to hire vans (transportation facilities) to conduct mobile health clinics at IDP sites in Kaluwanchikudy & Valachchenai MOH areas.
May 8-11, WHO medical officers have evaluated the health situation of the 91 IDP camps in Batticaloa and also those of Trincomalee, Jaffna and Kalmunai; they also assessed the capacity of the primary health care system and its availability to IDPs at various health facilities. The healthcare capacity in most facilities is stretched currently by the additional IDP population. This might change with the resettlement.
WHO medical officers made a thorough assessment of the overall capacity of the Batticaloa General Hospital and its preparedness for disaster management with mass trauma and emergencies. The capacity for disaster management is contingent upon having in place certain equipments. These include cardiac monitors, ventilators, back up generators and back boards for the Emergency Unit.
There is currently an assessment of the Emergency Medical Services in all districts.
Food Security & Livelihood
Oxfam GB's first round of skill training on agriculture was completed by the Agrarian Service from the 10 -13 May in Kiran division where and 135 members from displaced and host families participated in the session.
Oxfam GB's first round of skill training on carpentry was started by ESCO on 15 May.
Under Oxfam GB's cash for work programme, 50 IDPs were selected to decommission shelters.
Transport
IOM provided 36 trucks to UNICEF, UNOPS, ZOA, Save the Children, JRS, Oxfam Australia, DS and the Education department to transport NFRIs, shelter material, IDPs, Education materials and food items.
AMPARA DISTRICT
Situation Update
The situation remains tense.
Internally Displaced Persons
UNHCR Ampara reports that there are 12,244 displaced persons (3,187 families) in Ampara district.
Sector Response
Food
The WFP School Feeding Programme activities in some areas of Thirukkovil, Lahugala and Navithanveli divisions remain interrupted or stopped.
WFP food monitoring has revealed that IDPs are reluctant to register their children due to increased recruitment or due to concerns of compulsory resettlement in their place of origin, where security is still not stabilized. As a result WFP food cannot be distributed to them.
NFRIs
On 17 May, a distribution targeting 500 displaced families in Kalmunai Tamil took place. The package consisted of a toilet kit, baby kit, jerry can, mats, sheets, kitchen set, laundry soap, toilet soap etc and items were contributed by Merlin, CARE, Oxfam GB, UNICEF, UNHCR with IOM logistical assistance.
Shelter/Care and Maintenance
NRC continues to provide cash assistance to support shelter needs of IDPs in Alayadivembu. A total of 21,500 rupees is being given to each IDP family living in host homes. So far 97 out of 141 IDP families in Alayadivembu have received 21,500 rupees per family.
Protection
The DS provided sandbags to villagers in affected areas in Maha Oya DS to construct bunkers. Night time displacement continues to occur in villages along the Ampara-Maha Oya and the Damana-Hulanuge roads and there are no reported figures for this.
Psycho-social
Medical authorities report pervasive and chronic fear in affected persons due to risk of recruitment extortion, harassment and slow tsunami reconstruction progress and an increase in depression cases among mothers.
Wat/San
UNICEF constructed six toilets while the construction of four toilets is in progress for newly arrived IDPs from Batticaloa in Sammanthurai DS division.
The additional GA Kalmunai is looking for a new waste disposal site in Addelaichenai as the site UNICEF is was planning to construct on was opposed by local community.
Education
Students who have moved from uncleared areas continue to be in need of school uniform material.
UNICEF is working with ZDE on reintegrating former child recruits in to school sessions.
Agriculture & Food Security
FAO provided material to build a goat shed for 20 vulnerable families in Pandiruppu in Kalmunai Tamil DS Division.