OCHA Situation Report
Sri Lanka
24 October - 4 November 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Overall Situation
Increasing levels of security incidents continue to characterize the
operational environment in the Batticaloa district.

Security concerns are also an issue for four families in the Paddy 
Marketing Board welfare camp while another 20 families with relatives 
and friends refuse to go to Thiraimadu, in Batticaloa even though they 
are entitled to transitional shelters there because three persons have 
been shot dead from welfare camp. With support from TAFREN, the DS has 
identified and acquired some private land that will be made available 
for these families. Furthermore there are security concerns in 
Thiraimadu where women are being threatened by masked men.

By the end of this month, the Government will have paid the 4th payment 
of the 5,000 rupees per family per month for persons affected by the 
tsunami.

Japan handed over Rs. 130 million worth of medical equipment to improve 
healthcare facilities in 33 hospitals in tsunami-affected areas. The 
medical equipment will be used for emergency treatment in operating 
theatres, intensive care units, out patient departments, labour rooms 
and other medical units to diagnose and treat various complications and 
for efficient functioning of the hospitals.

The European Union on 31 October signed an agreement with the Government 
to offer around Rs. 900 million for livelihood assistance and waste 
disposal in the North and East for tsunami and conflict-affected 
families. The assistance is given through UNDP and support will be given 
through two Projects namely: the Quick Recovery Project and the 
Livelihood Development Project in the North and East.

The government of the Netherlands has disbursed Rs. 625 million out of 
its Dutch Development Co-operation budget as a grant for support to the 
Government for the construction of Multi-Day Boats and One-Day Boats 
damaged by the tsunami.

Meanwhile the construction of the National Disaster Management Center of 
the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society financed by Korea commenced 3 November 
at Minuwangoda Road, Katunayake.

Main challenges and response

As part of its flood contingency planning, UNICEF Zone Offices have 
compiled a list of IDP camps prone to flooding which will be distributed 
to TAP, Government partners, INGOs and local NGOs in order to discuss 
contingency preparedness planning for floods during the monsoon season. 
In Batticaloa UNICEF collected information in relation to the flooding 
from approximately 42,490 residents in flood prone areas. In addition, 
UNICEF has compiled a district level list of lead agencies for the WASH 
sector. In Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, UNICEF facilitated the 
compilation of a summary matrix identifying gaps in flood prone IDP 
camps, with other UN agencies and NGO partners as part of the ongoing 
contingency preparedness planning for floods during the monsoon season.

Coordination and common services

OCHA/HIC has been asked to support the Batticaloa GA in the gathering 
and consolidation of the data received from the different agencies in 
response to the GA's request for information. In addition to this, 
discussions have been held with TAFREN and CHA about the need to compare 
and consolidate the information regarding Who Does What Where in the 
district.

Preparations are ongoing for a joint GoSL, UN, INGO and NGO post-tsunami 
one year report to be released for the first year anniversary of the 
tsunami disaster. A Steering Committee that comprises the National 
Planning Department of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, TAFREN, 
United Nations, Asian Development Bank and the International Federation 
of the Red Cross are leading the reporting process. The joint effort 
aims to report accomplishments, remaining challenges and recommendations 
for future actions, such as laying the foundations for a joint 
monitoring and impact assessment by the government and the donor 
community. UNICEF is contributing to the education, water and 
sanitation, health, protection and psychosocial chapters of the report, 
in addition to providing human interest stories.

Save the Children in Sri Lanka is providing funds to set up 60 social 
development Centres in all the 59 divisions affected by the tsunami. 
This programme is implemented by the Women's Empowerment and Social 
Welfare Ministry and the foundation stone for the first centre was laid 
in Malamulla in Panadura in the western province recently.

Food security

WFP hosted a meeting of representatives from Bangladesh, China, India, 
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam in 
Bangkok from Oct 20-21. The representatives of the nine Asian nations 
gathered in Bangkok last week to discuss ways to expand these 
governments' partnerships with WFP to fight hunger that keeps growing 
nations from reaching their true potential. In Asia-- the world's 
fastest-growing region, one child dies every 11 seconds due to 
hunger-related causes, which is the equivalent of 10 tsunamis every 
year. WFP says over half a billion people in the region are chronically 
undernourished and that 17 per cent of children in Asia regularly go to 
bed hungry.

Health

The first Day Care Centre for Mothers and Children built at a cost of 
about 1.5 million rupees was declared open 24 October in Iththikulam- 
Pattalipuram in the Muttur east area in Trincomalee district with Tamil 
Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) funds. The center will provide 
nutritious food and health care for malnourished pregnant mothers and 
children.

World Vision is to donate equipment such as a stethoscope, examination 
beds, conference tables and chairs, bathroom skate, micro scope for TB 
testing, etc for Valaichenai, Vaharai and Batticaloa hospitals. 
Moreover, they will start a supplementary feeding program for the anemic 
pregnant mothers living in Batticaloa MOH area, Kaluwanchikudy, 
Chenkalady, Valaichenai and Kiran (Korakallimadu).

Water and sanitation

UNICEF has started the construction of permanent toilets in Arayampathy 
(600), Kattankudy (600) and Manmunai North (500) through local 
authorities.

In Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts UNICEF provided three double 
cab trucks to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. In 
Batticaloa, UNICEF provided 40 water tanks to the Arayampaty Pradesa 
Saba and 20 water tanks to the Kathankudy urban council to fill the gap 
for the drinking water supply.  Further, the construction of water and 
sanitation facilities in 63 schools has commenced in Batticaloa, 
Paturupu and Talpulda that will benefit 40,000 children.

In Jaffna, UNICEF provided specific technical advice on sanitation in 
the reconstruction of permanent settlements and the construction of 300 
latrines and 20 wells for conflict affected displaced people in 15 
divisions. Beneficiaries take part in the construction. The Divisional 
Secretary office released an initial advance to the beneficiaries for 
purchasing of materials and assigned technical staff and field officers 
for monitoring support.

50 toilets have been completed in Dutchbar under the permanent toilet 
construction programme by UNICEF in Batticaloa. 80 per cent of 
construction work is completed for 75 toilets in Veloor; the 
construction of 100 toilets is in progress at Kattankudy; and the 
construction of another 100 toilets is in progress at Arayampaty.

Non-food items and shelter

In Ampara upgrading of transitional shelter sites on a divisional level 
is ongoing, with special emphasis on preparations for the upcoming 
Monsoons. Lead agencies such as Caritas, Catholic Relief Services, Ehed, 
Islamic Relief, GOAL, IOM, OXFAM GB, German Red Cross and World Vision 
are taking responsibility in their respective divisions.

To date, IOM has completed 4,188 transitional accommodations in seven 
tsunami affected Districts through funding from ECHO, Greece and Japan. 
Committed to building a total of 5,775 transitional accommodations, IOM 
has secured land for 5,445 accommodations so far.

During the reporting period, IOM transported 26 containers with timber 
donated by OXFAM Australia to a facility in Colombo for chemical 
treatment. The treatment protects the wood against insects and the 
elements, making it capable of lasting up to 20 years.

FAO says they have completed distributing different crops (paddy, red 
onion, cow pea, vegetables, etc) to farmers across Batticaloa district 
by 20 October. In addition, they plan to complete their assistance in 
the fishing sector in the district by mid-Nov, at which time they will 
have provided 48 persons across the district with FRP fishing gear, 50 
persons in Vaharai division with sea going canoes, and 70 persons will 
have received outboard motors. Meanwhile ACTED is currently training 120 
fishermen in Vaharai division on different fishing techniques.

In Batticaloa, the TAP minimum standards assessment for transitional 
shelters is completed. The UNICEF WaSH team provided assistance in the 
compilation and technical review of the data collected on water and 
sanitation.

UNICEF supported the construction of 10 latrines in Galle, 26 latrines 
in Matara and four latrines in Hambantota transitional shelters. In 
Matara, six toilets and four bathing places in Weligama transitional 
camp are in progress.

Education

The Ceylon Transport Board has started to operate two buses for school 
children in Thiraimadu, Batticaloa district for those children having 
difficulties attending school.

In Jaffna, a discussion on classroom repairs in 40 schools was 
facilitated by the Zonal Director of Education on 3 October. Technical 
officers from five education zones, school construction engineers, and 
principals of beneficiary schools participated in the discussion. It was 
agreed that the repair work would be completed by the end of 2005.

In Batticaloa, UNICEF supported Navalady Namahal School affected by the 
tsunami to start work at the Thiraimadu resettlement area. UNICEF 
supported the school with temporary sheds; water and sanitation 
facilities; learning and teaching support.

Livelihoods

About 220,000 Sri Lankan families affected by last December's tsunami 
have received up to three installments of cash grants worth US$ 50 each, 
with another installment on the way soon. These World Bank-supported 
cash grants, designed to help people get back on their feet and 
circulate money in small local economies, have so far disbursed US$ 33 
million. When the last installment reaches families later this year, the 
total will be US$ 40 million. The World Bank has committed up to US$ 150 
million to help Sri Lanka.

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