OCHA Situation Report
Sri Lanka
24 - 28 June 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Situation

U.S. government funds for Asian tsunami reconstruction will begin 
flowing this week, with US$ 525 million earmarked to rebuild 
infrastructure and restore shattered livelihoods in the Asian region. 
Six months after the December 26 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami 
that killed more than 230,000 people, the work of rebuilding was just 
beginning, said State Department and U.S. Agency for International 
Development, or USAID, officials. USAID would also help rebuild a large 
bridge spanning the mouth of Arugam Bay.

WFP has entered into a contract with the Government for the local 
procurement of rice from Sri Lankan farmers in the tsunami-affected 
districts. WFP announced that it has reached an agreement with the 
Government to both support the continued relief food distributions to 
Sri Lankans affected by the tsunami and also provide support to local 
rice farmers. Given the good Maha harvest for paddy earlier this year, 
an opportunity arose for pursuing the purchases of rice in Sri Lanka. 
WFP entered into discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture, 
Livestock, Land and Irrigation last month to prepare the groundwork for 
this transaction. In accordance with the agreement reached recently 
between the Ministry and WFP, efforts were under way for the local 
procurement of 18,130 tonnes of rice in Sri Lanka. WFP's two largest 
donors for the food assistance programmes in Sri Lanka, the governments 
of Japan and Australia, are providing the funding for the local 
procurements. The Government of Japan is funding the purchase of 12,230 
tonnes of rice that will be distributed to people affected by the 
Tsunami; while the Government of Australia is funding 5,900 tonnes of 
rice that will be used in WFP programmes in the conflict-affected 
districts of the North and East.

According to the Galle district working group on Economic Recovery and 
Livelihood and Minor Infrastructure, which has representation of 
government, UN agencies and NGOs, a phase-out of cash-for-work 
programmes is occurring replaced by a growing number of micro-credit 
schemes which are now more accessible for beneficiaries.

Overview of activities

The Transitional Accommodation Project (TAP) Office in Galle District 
reported a total of 4,324 transitional shelters in Galle District. The 
UDA and THRU reported 299 permanent houses have been completed in Galle 
District and given to families. Most of the land allocated for permanent 
housing is still in the process of acquisition by the government.

According to Galle District Secretariat and the THRU (Tsunami Housing 
Reconstruction Unit) 280 persons are still living in 17 tented camps in 
Galle, however no camp is considered to still be under the management of 
the government. Divisional Secretaries in Galle District have been 
instructed to remove tents which are not being lived in and to store at 
least some of them at DS offices for use in case of emergencies.

In Batticaloa district, according to the Transitional Accommodation 
Project (TAP) as of 27 June, out of a total of 10,859 being built 7, 657 
or 71 per cent have been completed with 856 displaced families still in 
welfare centers and 350 in tents.

Save the Children in Sri Lanka provides an update on relief item 
distribution: it includes 1,700 mosquito nets for Ampara; 3,043 hygiene 
kits for Jaffna; 1,936 slippers for one- to five-year olds, 1,174 
slippers for six- to nine-year olds, 567 slippers for 10- to 13-year 
olds, all in Jaffna; and 1,027 primary school kits and 971 secondary 
school kits, all also in Jaffna.

Challenges and Responses

A two-day workshop on "Improving Local Democracy through Citizen 
Participation" which was organized by the Eastern Rehabilitation 
Organization (ERO) and supported by USAID was held in Trinco last week. 
It was the first in a series of six workshops to be held in the district 
with the support of USAID. The objectives of the workshop were to 
enhance the knowledge of local government officials and civil society 
leaders on issues of human rights, democracy and peace and also to 
create an opportunity for local leaders to discuss and identify 
immediate priorities regarding peace building. Another purpose of the 
workshop is to increase the level of awareness on duties and 
responsibilities in democratic societies.

Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) District Support Unit (DSU) is 
operating with OCHA and is providing maps and database services to the 
Government and humanitarian community. The HIC has placed a full-time 
National Liaison Officer, a GIS Assistant and GIS Officer, and a 
Database Coordinator. HIC has also sent an IT Officer to investigate how 
to strengthen communication means in the OCHA office.

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