OCHA Situation Report
Sri Lanka
8 - 15 June 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Overall Situation

On June 15, 63 civilians were killed in a claymore mine attack on a packed 
civilian bus in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, with more than eighty others injured, 
including school-aged children. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human 
Rights Louise Arbour condemned the attack adding that it follows an alarming 
trend in recent months in which civilians, including children, are increasingly 
becoming the targets of escalating violence in Sri Lanka.

In response Government forces started shelling LTTE positions in Sampoor, 
Mullativu and Killinochchi. The situation remains tense and it is unclear as to 
the humanitarian implications at this time. Further, various (tsunami) recovery 
operations in affected areas have been suspended. This report however mainly 
gives an overview of activities before the 15 June attack.

Main challenges and response

As reported in the previous situation report on the ban of cement and steel bar 
etc transportation to uncleared areas, the Ministry of Defence has directed a 
new procedure for the transport of cement and steel to and through uncleared 
areas. Under this agencies are required to submit details of the Bill of 
Quantities with documents to justify quantity of cement and steel for the 
specific project with timeline to the Government Agent for his recommendation 
while quantities of cement and steel previously permitted in respect of the 
project is to be submitted as well. The GA has been directed to provide 
evidence in the form of photographs of the progress of the reconstruction and 
development of projects to ensure it tallies with materials approved. Various 
agencies reported that materials have been brought in since this instruction 
was issued.

In Ampara IOM is in the process of decommissioning tents in the Komari I and 
Komari II sites in Pothuvil Division and is also clearing rubble and disposing 
of plastic waste etc as well as excavating cement floors. IOM awaits 
confirmation of a location for disposal of waste. One idea was to create a dune 
along the coast as a barrier on the failure to secure a suitable dumping site. 
Rubble has to be disposed in areas not close to water sources as this would 
lead to contamination. Also in Ampara district IOM is finding it difficult to 
upgrade shelters as their goods need to be cleared from customs in Colombo. IOM 
Ampara has sought the assistance of the Government Agent in regards to the 
matter.

Coordination and common services

UNICEF recently distributed 14 motor cycles to the Zonal Director of Education 
in the districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu as well as to two local NGOs 
working for women and children in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

Caritas SED Galle recently conducted an awareness workshop on the 1,500 houses 
that are to be built in Galle district. Identified beneficiaries for the donor 
driven and home owner driven housing program participated along with government 
officials of those areas. Construction on 139 such houses has begun in Galle 
and beneficiaries' provided feedback in regard to on going programs and 
proposed housing constructions.

An internal road is being constructed in the Sigha Deevaragama tsunami 
resettlement village of Galle district by UNOPS. Mesh weaving and Gabion wall 
construction of the Megalle canal is being done by UNOPS and has achieved 90 
per cent progress.

Health

In Batticaloa district 28 cases of Hepatitis were referred to the Deputy 
Provincial Director of Health Services from the Kattankudy Division. Even 
though the situation is now under control, as a measure of control and 
prevention the Medical Officer of Health for Kattankudy has requested UNICEF 
assistance

A UNICEF funded nutrition survey has started in Trincomalee and further to this 
three Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) were sent for training in this regard.

In Paddalipuram (Muttur LTTE controlled area) in Trincomalee disitrict MDM 
(Medicos Del Mundo) Spain is conducting health promotion activities on 
diarrhoea and skin infections. MSF France will begin operations shortly and 
will base their medical team at the understaffed Eachchilampattai Hospital and 
serve the community in LTTE controlled Muthur through mobile clinics.

A MoU was signed between the Italian Embassy, the Ministry of Healthcare and 
Nutrition and WHO for the implementation of the National Plan of Action for 
Prevention & Control of Dengue in Sri Lanka

In Ampara, the medical NGO Merlin organizes operational health meetings with 
the Medical Officers of Health regarding rebuilding hospitals. Hospital 
construction is delayed as most of the skilled contractors are leaving the 
district citing security reasons. Furthermore land has not yet been identified 
due to scarcity and disputes over land (for schools, for hospitals, for housing 
schemes etc).

UNICEF and the Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services (DPDHS) opened two 
newly constructed Grammadoya Health Centres in Ambulanthurai and 
Palaiyadiveddai Batticaloa District recently. UNICEF is also building a 
Gramodaya Health Center in Sathurukondan, neighboring Thiraimadu, which can 
also be accessed by Thiraimadu residents. Thirty-five per cent of the 
construction work is complete.

UNICEF with the Medical Officer of Health Vakarai in Batticaloa district 
distributed large cooking pans and 110 baby hygiene kits for all displaced 
families/ mothers with children below 5 years currently located in Kathriveli, 
Vaharai.

In Batticaloa, Merlin assessed the Thiraimadu relocation site to explore health 
needs.

According to their study, there is an urgent need for raising health awareness 
among the population and Merlin is in the process of expanding their Health 
Awareness Program to Thiraimadu.

The tsunami-affected Ministry of Health in Aluthgama in the south is being 
reconstructed by UNOPS with UNICEF funding. Forty six per cent progress has 
been observed in this regard.

Water and sanitation

In Trincomalee water and sanitation for the displaced remains a challenge. 
According to Oxfam GB, 170 toilets are needed for the displaced, but there are 
only 35 toilets. Constructing permanent toilets is hampered as raw material 
such as cement etc is not freely available for transport. Temporary toilets can 
be used for only a few weeks and it needs to be monitored continuously.

In Ampara UNICEF has donated two gully suckers to the DPDHS, however the DPDHS 
is finding it difficult to pay for the operational costs of the gully suckers. 
At present Merlin has covered the expenses for maintenance and drivers' 
salaries of these gully-suckers. Merlin is seeking the assistance of the 
District Secretariat or Municipality to take on the responsibility.

In Batticaloa district 26 schools lacking wat/san facilities have been 
identified by Merlin and has requested the wat/san coordination forum to 
facilitate in finding donors to fulfill the wat/san needs in these schools. 
Action Contre la Faim is committed to takeover five to six schools. In addition 
to this, UNICEF is supporting the Zonal Director of Education in finding funds 
for 70 other schools in Batticaloa District without wat/san facilities.

In Killinochchi there is still no solution in regard to toilet construction on 
standards issued by the LTTE Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS). The 
types of toilets to be built are still on a discussion level among INGOs due to 
some new instructions from the PDS. UNICEF is having discussions with the PDS 
regarding the matter.

Oxfam is constructing septic tanks, waste water pits, manholes and drains for 
houses built by World Vision in Matara district. World Vision has commenced 
construction work on three mini water schemes while Community Based 
Organisations are being established for the management of these schemes.

Non-food items and shelter

In Trincomalee an Italian NGO recently handed over 29 permanent houses to the 
tsunami-affected in Trincomalee Town and Gravets DS division.

In Thiraimadu Batticaloa district Helvetas and the Tsunami Trust recently 
completed constructions on two model houses.

In the South the Salvation Army recently handed over 30 permanent houses for 
tsunami-affected beneficiaries in Galagodawattwe, Hikkaduwa.

Education

In Ampara, UNOPS reports difficulty in building UNICEF schools due to laborers 
leaving the district owing to security reasons. Also in Ampara, outstanding 
land issues still remain for the allocation of schools and also hospitals.

In Thiraimadu in Batticaloa district UNICEF has started construction on one 
permanent school to replace the Navalady Namahal School, which was completely 
destroyed by the tsunami. Currently pupils of this school take lessons at a 
temporary school building constructed by UNICEF.

Constructions related to the education sector in the districts of Killinochchi 
and Mullaitive are in critical condition due to non availability of cement. The 
government and ADB funded constructions are temporarily halted by contractors.

Under the ILO-IPEC programme in the Southern Province, implemented by the 
National Workers Congress, more children affected by the tsunami were referred 
to the Beruwela and Panadura Centres, (in the Kalutara District) Thelwatte and 
Kudawella and Hambantota Vocational Training Centres (in the Hambantota 
district) - 60 in all and have been enrolled for vocational training courses 
through these referrals. A new batch of 100 children have been provided with 
art therapy classes as part of a psycho- social healing intervention in the 
Galle District.

Livelihoods

On 9 June, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German 
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) signed a 
subsidy agreement with The Spice Council (TSC) to establish a Cinnamon Training 
Academy (CTA) in the Southern Region of Sri Lanka and consolidate Sri Lanka as 
the world's top exporter of cinnamon. The Cinnamon Training Academy is intended 
to develop the skills and competency of cinnamon producers (peelers). The 
objective is to train 300 participants every year. The total project cost 
borders 21 million rupees, 72 per cent of which will be funded by the German 
side.

FAO is supporting the National Institute of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering 
(NIFNE) in training 300 graduates recently recruited by the Ministry of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MFAR) and its agencies. NIFNE-MFAR 
collaborated with FAO to provide the recruits with an orientation in the 
workings of the MFAR and inter-related agencies and an overview of the 
fisheries sector, the interactions between different stakeholders within the 
sector and on the impact of the graduates' individual duties on the overall 
industry. A group of 25 graduates were trained in the first week of June, 
bringing the total number of trainees, since the start of the training 
programme in April 2006, to 159.

In the South training in sewing programs for 25 tsunami-affected persons is on 
going with the help of UN Habitat in collaboration with a local company.

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