ReliefWeb

KILINOCHCHI & MULLAITIVU DISTRICTS

Situation update

The general situation in Kilinochchi has been calm during reporting period.

On Wednesday, December 20, 2006, MoD has granted GA Kilinochchi a permission to transport 700,000 liter of kerosene from Vavuniya for general public consumption. Similarly on Tuesday December 19, 2006, UN agencies based in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts have received the permission to transport the December quota of fuel from Commissioner General Essential Services [CGES]. The one month fuel quota of UN agencies in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu district amounts to 30,000 liter of diesel and 1,000 liter of petrol.

Internally Displaced Persons

According to the GA there are no changes in IDP figures since October 5, 2006 in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

Sector Response

Shelter

UNHCR reports that it has completed the construction of 92 temporary shelters in the Mongilaru and Theravil areas of Mullaitivu district during the reporting period. The constructing of the remaining temporary shelters are ongoing. UNHCR is working with FORUT in the provision of temporary shelter to the IDP families in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

In Mullaitivu district, CARE has completed the construction of 150 temporary shelters for IDP families living with host families who are settled in the villages of Ampalavanpokkanai and Maththalan. Similarly, in 7 settlement locations in Kandawalai AGA division of Kilinochchi district, 50 temporary shelters out of a planned 150 have been completed.

SOLIDAR reports that of a committed 370 temporary shelters for IDP families living with friends and relatives, the construction of 248 temporary shelters have been completed in Kandawalai AGA division to date. The work on the remaining shelters is ongoing. The construction of these shelters has been done together with KNDO (Karachchi North Development Organization). A total of 130 temporary shelters for IDPs living in communal places have also been completed by SOLIDAR to date.

In Sampukkulam and Settukkandy villages (Kandawalai division), OXFAM (through KNDO) is currently in the process of constructing 40 temporary shelters for IDP families living with friends and relatives.

HUDEC has distributed temporary shelter materials to 60 IDP families living with friends and relatives in Kilinochchi town areas.

Water and Sanitation

The site selection for the construction of the temporary toilets to the IDPs families who have been selected through the needs assessment conducted by CARE last month is ongoing with the supervision of health personnel of the divisions. Around 90 temporary toilets have been planned to be built after the proper site has been selected in various settlement locations.

In Kalmadunagar IDPs settlement (Kandawalai-Kilinochchi), 20 units of latrines have been completed by SOLIDAR. The water supply for this site is being provided by ICRC.

NFRIs

On December 20, World Vision has distributed NFRI packages to the 100 IDP families currently living in the Kariyalainagapaduvan village of Poonakary division in Kilinochchi district.

On December 17, CARE distributed NFRI packages to 504 IDP families Mullaitivu district. The details of the location are: Ampalavanpokkanai (228 families), Mullivaikkal East (166 families) and Mallikaiththivu (110 families)

Health and Nutrition

On 16 December, CARE conducted an awareness programme on Chikungunya fever in Kandawalai and Thirunagar north (Kilinochchi). Involving the community, CARE also organized a 'Shramadana' (community clean up activities done by the community for the community free of charge) to destroy mosquito breeding sites and clear roads and by lanes.

Food

On 14 December, the Commissioner General for Essential Services (CGES) sent 22 MT of wheat flour to Kilinochchi for the IDP dry ration supply through MPCSs (Multi Purpose Coorperative Societies)

On 14, 16, 18 and 19 December, the following food commodities were transported by MPCSs of Kilinochchi district for the general public's consumption respectively: 1.25 MT- Dhal, 10.986 MT Milk food and 94.466 MT of commodities. 57 MT Wheat flour, 15MT Sugar, 3.725 MT Milk food and 47.751 MT of commodities 12 MT Wheat flour, 7.5MT Dhal, 2.05 MT Milk food and 48.026 MT of commodities. 38.25 MT Sugar and 8 MT commodities.

On 15, 16 and 17 December, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) distributed 1,167 packages (both food and non food items) to IDP families in Kilinochchi (eight villages) and Mullaitivu (two villages). The packages were transported to Kilinochchi on 14 December.

Education

UNOPS with UNICEF funds has completed the construction of 36 temporary sheds [100'x25'] out of a planned 38 (30 sheds for Kilinochchi and 8 sheds for Mullaitivu) in schools where IDPs students have been registered after 11th August, 2006.

TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT

Situation up-date

Continued artillery shelling in uncleared areas with a decrease in security incidents reported in Trincomalee town itself. The Kantalai to Muttur road remains insecure, although aid agencies have been able to access the area again in recent days.

Internally Displaced Persons

According to the GoSL there are now 7,211 IDPs in Trincomalee district, spread across 25 sites. IDP figures in Kantalai have stabilised at 4,071 with only a few new arrivals in recent days. Approximately 200 IDPs displaced from the district to uncleared areas in Batticaloa in August have returned to Trincomalee in the past few days due to the intense fighting around Vaharai. The IDPs have travelled through jungle areas to Selvanagar, Muttur division, before the ICRC helped facilitate their movement into cleared areas and settlement into Killiveddi school. There have also been reports of IDPs currently located in Batticaloa, but originally from Trincomalee, moving by the main roads through Polanaruwa, back towards Trincomalee. UNHCR and other agencies are making preparations for more possible returning IDPs from the Batticaloa area.

Sector Response

Shelter

Repair of conflict damaged houses in Muttur division continues, with UMCOR responsible for 414 and RDF a further 109 houses. Difficulty in obtaining sand has caused some delays. There are still a number of IDPs unable to return to their homes in order to benefit from the assistance.

For those people whose houses were fully damaged CTF and JRS are providing 125 and 25 temporary shelters respectively in Palanagar, with FCE providing a further 60 temporary shelters in Neithalnagar.

Site management

The GSs are responsible for site management for the 8 IDP sites in Kantalai. With the reopening of the schools on 3rd January, the District authorities are considering relocating IDPs currently located in 3 school buildings.

Watsan

UNICEF, ICRC, OXFAM and CARE are providing temporary and permanent toilets for the 8 new IDP sites in Kantalai.

The inadequate water supply in Tanganagar school remains a problem, with water bowsering to the site not possible due to the security situation.

Hygiene kit distribution is ongoing in all IDP sites, with UNICEF compiling a matrix of deliveries in order to prevent duplication in assistance.

NFRIs

UNHCR has compiled an overview of stocks, and is in the process of doing the same for deliveries, for those agencies that have provided NFRIs to the new IDP sites in Kantalai, including DRC, NRC, CARE, ICRC, SCF, and SLRCS.

NFRIs needs in the IDP sites in Kantalai are now considered well covered.

TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT

Situation up-date

Continued artillery shelling in uncleared areas with a decrease in security incidents reported in Trincomalee town itself. The Kantalai to Muttur road remains insecure, although aid agencies have been able to access the area again in recent days.

Internally Displaced Persons

According to the GoSL there are now 7,211 IDPs in Trincomalee district, spread across 25 sites. IDP figures in Kantalai have stabilised at 4,071 with only a few new arrivals in recent days. Approximately 200 IDPs displaced from the district to uncleared areas in Batticaloa in August have returned to Trincomalee in the past few days due to the intense fighting around Vaharai. The IDPs have travelled through jungle areas to Selvanagar, Muttur division, before the ICRC helped facilitate their movement into cleared areas and settlement into Killiveddi school. There have also been reports of IDPs currently located in Batticaloa, but originally from Trincomalee, moving by the main roads through Polanaruwa, back towards Trincomalee. UNHCR and other agencies are making preparations for more possible returning IDPs from the Batticaloa area.

Sector Response

Shelter

Repair of conflict damaged houses in Muttur division continues, with UMCOR responsible for 414 and RDF a further 109 houses. Difficulty in obtaining sand has caused some delays. There are still a number of IDPs unable to return to their homes in order to benefit from the assistance.

For those people whose houses were fully damaged CTF and JRS are providing 125 and 25 temporary shelters respectively in Palanagar, with FCE providing a further 60 temporary shelters in Neithalnagar.

Site management

The GSs are responsible for site management for the 8 IDP sites in Kantalai. With the reopening of the schools on 3rd January, the District authorities are considering relocating IDPs currently located in 3 school buildings.

Watsan

UNICEF, ICRC, OXFAM and CARE are providing temporary and permanent toilets for the 8 new IDP sites in Kantalai.

The inadequate water supply in Tanganagar school remains a problem, with water bowsering to the site not possible due to the security situation.

Hygiene kit distribution is ongoing in all IDP sites, with UNICEF compiling a matrix of deliveries in order to prevent duplication in assistance.

NFRIs

UNHCR has compiled an overview of stocks, and is in the process of doing the same for deliveries, for those agencies that have provided NFRIs to the new IDP sites in Kantalai, including DRC, NRC, CARE, ICRC, SCF, and SLRCS.

NFRIs needs in the IDP sites in Kantalai are now considered well covered.

As of 21 December, IOM is managing Zahira Welfare Centre with a total of 204 IDP families (747 individuals). Since 13th December 6 new families (14 individuals) arrived in the Centre.

As of 21 December, a total of 137 families (527 individuals) displaced from Vaharai and Kathiraveli are housed at the Saththurukondan Welfare Centre. The Centre is managed by IOM.

Food

Food Assistance in the District is as follows,

Koralai Pattu Division (Valachchenai):

a. Sewalanka covering food needs at CPM IDP site until the end of December.

b. ZOA providing food assistance to new IDP arrivals at Vinayahapuram Transitional School IDP Site.

Manmunai North Division (Batticaloa):

a. GA/DS providing cooked meals for newly arrived IDPs at 5 new sites, with support from American Mission, IOM and local community.

b. CARITAS covering food needs at 4 existing IDP sites (St. Sebastian School, Sinhala M.V. Zharira Vid, Sathurukondan Site) from beginning of December to first week of January.

Eravur Pattu Division (Chenkelady):

a. GA/DS providing/ coordinating cooked meals g for newly arrived IDPs at 5 new sites.

b. GA/WFP dispatched 1 week's dry food rations for 2065 families / 7762 persons - 27.166 MT of food - in Govt controlled areas of the Division.

Koralai Pattu North Division (Vaharai):

a. ACTED/ESCO provided dry rations for 5 days for 70 newly arrived families at Vattavan.

Koralai Pattu South Division (Kiran):

a. GA/DS providing/ coordinating cooked meals for newly arrived IDPs at 4 sites.

b. ACTIONAID/BESSCO providing cooked meals at one site for newly arrived (Barathi Vidyalam in Parangiyam).

Manmunai South & Eruvil Pattu Division (Kaluwanchikudy):

a. GA/DS is providing/ coordinating cooked meals for newly arrived IDPs in Kaluwanchikudy with assistance from the local community.

b. TDH providing 2 weeks dry rations at the same site.

Manmunai West Division (Vavunatheevu) :

a) GA/WFP dispatched 2 weeks dry rations for 466 families / 1748 persons - 12.25 MT food.

Manmunai Pattu Division (Arayampathy):

GA/WFP dispatched 1 week's dry rations for 250 families / 767 persons - 2.691 MT food.

Recently arrived IDPs located in the empty Kalliyankadu Food stores (407 families - 1,439 individuals) received from IOM 300 kg of rice for communal cooking.

Wat/San

According to watsan working group, the lack of sufficient toilet facilities at the schools where the IDPs are staying remains a major concern and different agencies are working to improve general sanitary conditions.

During this reporting period, four temporary toilets were provided by IOM to Thiruperunthurai IDP families who are with host families as well as 3 toilets in Manmunai North.

IOM provided one water pump to supply water to IDPs at Kalliyankadu Food store as well as two 1,000 liters capacity water tanks. Toilet soaps, sanitizing soap / chlorine and washing materials were provided to support the 407 families.

At Kokkuvil School, IOM has provided 3 temporary toilets for the IDPs housed in the school.

NFRI

On 15 December, IOM provided 05 trucks and 04 buses to UNHCR to transport various IDPs from Vaharai check point to Savukkady, Redidenna, Valachchenai, Chenkalady, Kaluwanchikudy and Batticaloa (MN) IDP sites. On 16 December, 05 trucks and 04 buses were provided to UNHCR to continue the transportation mission from above said locations. On 17 December, 01 truck and 02 buses were provided to UNHCR for the same above said purpose. On 18 December, 05 trucks and 04 buses were provided to UNHCR for same purpose. On 19 December, 02 buses to UNHCR and 04 buses to GA, Bt/Kachcheri for same purpose. A total of 3,000 families (12,000 individuals) benefited from this transportation arrangement.

During the reporting period, Sarvodaya has distributed Hygiene Kits to the IDP families as follows, Arayampathy DS division- 261 Families, Vaharai DS Division- 925 Families, Valachchenai DS Division- 643 Families, Chenkalady DS Division- 1137 Families, Manmunai North DS Division- 541 Families.

During this reporting period, 6 NFRIs/ hygiene packs plus 12 mats were provided by IOM to the new comers at Zahira Welfare Centre. Sixteen IDP families who are with host families were received NFRI kits during 14th to 20th Dec. Additionally, 35 IDPs who are with host families in Manmunai North were provided with NFRI kits, cooking utensils, 3 temp toilets and 100 kg rice.

Protection

The registration of separated and unaccompanied children is being officially conducted by the Department of Probation & Child Care Services. The information is been collected by various agencies is been collated for referral through UNICEF. It is of concern that families, especially children, are being separated at the point of transportation. As a preventive measure, UNICEF has printed 3,000 leaflets to be distributed to families at Rideetenna and Valachchenai.

UNICEF has provided 3 recreational kits to CCF for use in Chenkalady IDP sites.

AMPARA DISTRICT

Situation update

Security situation remains tense.

Following media reports that children attending special classes for the GCE Ordinary Level examination in Vinayagapuram in Thirukkovil were abducted, parents accompanied their children who were sitting for the examination which ends in the days before 24 December.

The Spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Military reports on 21st December that 22 students and two teachers out of the 25 people abducted on 19th December were released after the LTTE admitted the abduction. According to the Spokesperson, 1 girl is still missing.

Internally Displaced Persons

UNHCR has informed that IDP numbers continued to increase. As of 18th December, 637 families of consisting 2,308 individuals are in the district.

On 20th December, UNHCR reported that 5 families arrived in Karaitivu from Vaharai, Alayadivembu DS reported that another 4 families arrived in the DS from Vaharai, World vision and DS Pottuvil reported that 5 families arrived from Muttur in the DS. UNHCR is working with Government authorities to register the newly arrived IDPs. However, there are no official government figures of IDPs movements from Vaharai yet.

Floods

On 17 December, OCHA, UNICEF and MERLIN conducted a rapid assessment of the displacement caused by the flooding in Pottuvil Division.. The assessment revealed that 27 GNs were affected in Pottuvil. The National Disaster Management Center reported that 6,000 families and 2,200 families were affected as a result of floods in Pottuvil division and Lahugala respectively. The rapid assessment found that only 2 community temporary centres were set up at time of visit to cater for the displaced communities. In Hithayapuram, 196 families (350 individuals) were relocated to the Hithayapuram Maha Vidyalaya after the floods. The community mobilized itself to provide food for the affected families. As per UNICEF and the watsan agencies' assessment there are not alarming watsan issues at the moment. Merlin has discussed the health needs of the community with the DPDHS (Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services).

On 21st December, the lead agency for Pottuvil World vision reported that the flood situation is under control as most of the displaced families have moved backed to their home.

On 18th December, a mini cyclone affected 27 families in Komari. The DMU reported that 27 houses were damaged. OXFAM Australia assessed the damages.

Access

Agencies present on the Ministry of Defence list who have the authorization to resume work in the uncleared areas met on 18 December. Handicap International and NRC informed that they have concentrated their work in Batticaloa and Trincomalee while the others have confirmed their willingness to resume activities in the uncleared areas of Ampara.

Sector Response

NFRI

The inter-agency distribution of NFRIs is continuing in the district. On 19 December IDPs and Host families from Karaitivu (28 families) and Nintavur (15 families) were provided NFRIs by Merlin, UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM and Save the Children. Among the items distributed were family hygiene kits, emergency kits, kitchen sets, baby kits, buckets, plates and cups.