OCHA Situation Report
Sri Lanka
24 February - 3 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Overall Situation

The OCHA Ampara field office held a half day workshop on "Permanent
Housing Site Criteria" on 3 March 2006 with support from UNICEF, OXFAM,
IOM, ILO and the Reconstruction and Development Authority (RADA). The
workshop brought together representatives from governmental and
humanitarian agencies, both from the United Nations and the INGO
community, in order to engage in broad discussions on what criteria are
needed for permanent housing site identification.  The aim is to promote
a sustainable situation in which people who choose to live there find
the necessary conditions to build a new life following the destruction
to lives, livelihoods and property from the tsunami.

The eight day protest by tsunami affected persons in Kalumnai Divisional
Secretariat, Ampara was resolved on March 2 after the intervention of
President Mahinda Rajapakse.  The President instructed the Divisional
Secretary to allocate land and prepare estimates for the construction of
houses.

The Sri Lankan president officially announced that an air-strip is to be
built at Weerawila in Hambantota in the south. The airport is to be
developed to meet international standards and will enhance the
socio-economic structure of the whole district whilst attaining a
sustainable economy.

The INGOs working in Vaharai Division, namely ACTED, Care International,
Merlin, Handicap International, Oxfam GB and Oxfam Australia met the
LTTE on 1 March in Vaharai to discuss constraints faced by them due to a
new system introduced by LTTE's Travel Monitoring Division. It was
decided that the INGOs who already provided the information requested by
LTTE for the card system in early January need not submit the newly
introduced forms. However, newcomers still need to fill and submit the
form to the LTTE check point at Panichchenkerni.

Shelter agencies were told to change the designs of their tsunami houses
by the LTTE's Planning and Development Secretariat at a meeting in
Vadamarachchi East to follow international earthquake standards and put
4 supporting bars. There is concern that this will slow down building
and increase costs.

Oxfam is conducting a major campaign against women's violence
nationally, with a conference next week concentrating on Change Makers.

UNHCR will host a workshop on Land Rights on 17 March 2006.

Main challenges and response

OCHA Ampara reports that the issue of identifying dumping sites for
human waste from the transitional shelter sites is critical. Until now,
no solution has been found to the problem. The Deputy Director of Health
Services (DPDHS) has been contacted by the GA to identify short-term
temporary sites, however no progress has been reported so far. The issue
is further complicated by the fact that the land should be identified by
the respective DS and cleared by the DPDHS from a public health point of
view.

Health officials found seven hepatitis cases in Nilavelai camp in
Kuchchavelai DS division, Trincomalee. A Medical Officer of Health (MOH)
is analysing the situation to produce a report shortly. Some agencies in
Trincomalee are now introducing plastic septic tanks for toilets in
their toilet construction. It was reported that people are very
reluctant to use the toilets. It was advised that agencies should raise
awareness about toilets and their use. There was a discussion on
child-friendly toilets; agencies mentioned that they will look into the
possibilities to implement it in the future.

In Killinochchi there are continuing problems for farmers trying to sell
their paddy. Demand is down and it is a great concern for farmers. Due
to lack of storage facilities private rice mill owners are able to
purchase rice at a reduced rate (850 rupees - equal or lower than the
cost of production).

OCHA Killinochchi reports that Agencies are likely to run into problems
of finding skilled labour in the near future as well as supplies
shortages and tax/border issues.

Coordination and common services

IOM's mobile registration unit has to date completed the registration
process of more than 300,000 tsunami-affected persons in the southern
and western districts of Hambantota, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Gampaha,
and Puttalam.

IOM delivers 40 newspapers to 18 transitional shelter sites in Ampara on
a daily basis benefiting nearly 2000 people. In Matara, IOM delivers 36
newspapers to 15 transitional sites and one child and youth center which
benefits approximately 2,500 persons.

On 2 March the Norwegian Institute conducted a workshop with the
participation of government officials, INGOs/NGOs and a cross section of
beneficiaries as an outcome to the Norwegian Institute of Urban and
Regional Research findings on the tsunami aid delivery system, which was
a view from six tsunami-affected districts.  Points on "Stakeholders
Perspectives from Hambantota District", the roles and views of
politicians, administrators, INGOs/NGOs and tsunami-affected communities
were discussed at length.

Health

The UNICEF zonal offices reported that in Batticaloa the construction of
six health clinics is ongoing. In Galle district two out of four health
clinics have been completed and handed over to the Health Department
while the construction of the two remaining health clinics is nearing
completion. With regard to construction and renovation work at
Balapitiya hospital tendering is in progress.

Vector control and Hygiene programs of World Vision are on going in the
district that cover 5000 houses per week by the mobilizers of World
Vision. Under the Hygiene promotion program, awareness programs on
hygienic toilets and garbage facilities and composting are being carried
out.

Actors working with disabled people had their first Disability Actors
Coordination Meeting on 23 March at the Centre for Accessibility
Mobilization Information (CAMID) in order to create better coordination
between them.

Medecins de Monde (MDM) is in the process of constructing two central
dispensaries and doctors quarters in Naduttu and Kakamunnai in Kinniya
division, Trincomalee.

Water and sanitation

The IOM water and sanitation team in Ampara has started working on 43
new toilets, two community dug wells and 13 well upgrades.

IOM Transitional Shelter sites and water tanks in Galagoda, Kalamulla
were cleaned recently with community participation.

In 2006, UNICEF will support 2,000 IDP families newly settled in
Puttalam District with water and sanitation facilities. The project will
complement the World Bank housing project in Puttalam. The National
Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) in collaboration with the Water
Resources Board (WRB) are conducting studies to locate sites for
developing new water supply facilities. UNICEF and IOM have agreed to
support 800 conflict affected families repatriated from India and
settled in Vavuniya and Mannar with water supply and sanitation issues.
In addition, nearly 15,000 people from the host community will
indirectly benefit from the project.

In Kilinochchi, 11 new health clubs were formed in UNICEF supported
schools during the UNICEF reporting period 26 January - 24 February.

The construction of 45 toilets for tsunami affected people in
Kalappukattu of Pottuvil DS division, Alim Nahar and Ilukkuchenai of
Akkaraipattu and Kalmunai has been completed during the UNICEF reporting
period and 95 are in progress. Out of the18 child friendly latrines for
primary schools planned for construction last year, one toilet has been
completed and 17 are still in progress at different stages in the three
tsunami-affected Zones of Education. In Batticaloa, 250 toilets out of
300 are completed at Kattankudy while another 100 toilets are in
progress.

UNICEF reports that in Galle, due to the risk of contamination of the
water table, a new design for the septic tank is being undertaken. On
the job training of masons for the construction of rainwater harvesting
systems has started.

Non-food items and shelter

As of 13 February, the Tsunami Housing and Reconstruction Unit (THRU)
reported that a total of 443, 431, 435, 150 permanent houses had been
handed over to beneficiaries in Tangalle, Ambalantota, Hambantota and
Tissa divisions in Habantota district respectively, under the
Donor-Driven Housing Programme.

Twenty six permanent houses in Galagodawatte, Hikkaduwa have been handed
over to the beneficiaries of Hikkaduwa on 26 February.

In Galle district, the Tsunami Housing Reconstruction Unit reports that
as of 2 March a total of 898 permanent houses have been handed over to
beneficiaries.

The South West Housing Reconstruction Unit reports that out of a total
of 2,337 cases approved to receive the government grant under the Home
Owner Driven housing programme for fully damaged houses, 2316 have
received the first installment, 1688 have received the second
installment, 606 have received the third installment and 230 have
received the fourth installment. Meanwhile 6010 partially damaged houses
have been approved to get the grant, while 6010 have received the first
installment and 4348 have received the second installment.

In Killinochchi, construction of 900 semi-permanent shelters is to start
on 15 April. The shelters are been built for two categories of IDPs, one
group is for displaced IDPs and the other is for recently displaced
IDPs.  200 shelters will be built in the Subas Settlement for the
recently displaced from Jaffna and Mullaitivu, whilst 700 shelters will
be built in the Kokkulai, kokuththobai, karunaddukkerny areas and for
the conflict displaced in Alampil, Semmlai, Kumarapuram and
Swamithovval.

Education

The UNICEF zonal offices reported that in Ampara the construction of
permanent buildings for three schools has started. The physical progress
of the three schools in Galle district is 10, 15 and 40 per cent
respectively. Out of eight schools in Hambantota, one school has
achieved 20 per cent while another three schools have achieved a
physical progress of ten per cent.

A teacher training program on child psychology had been carried out by
the Sarvodaya district center for teachers in tsunami-affected divisions
of Galle. The training was conducted by professional doctors, lawyers
and staff of Unawatuna Teachers' Training College

A ZOA funded computer training centre was opened on 24 February at
Sampoor Maha Vidiyalaya (School) in Muttur East, Trincomalee.

Tamil's Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) organized an awareness raising
programme on pre-school education for parents of pre-school going
children. TRO is managing pre-schools in Eachchilampattai, Kantalai,
Kuchchaveli, Kinniya and Town and Gravets.

Livelihoods

Oxfam is providing two ice factories in Mullaitivu and is about to start
bringing in supplies.

Sewa Lanka is carrying out "CEFE" - Self Employment Training courses in
tsunami-affected areas. One course lasts ten days and three have been
completed.

The Rural Development Bank is operating extensively throughout the
Vanni, issuing loans and receiving savings.  The bank seems to have a
level of trust not enjoyed by other banks. Oxfam is looking at working
in partnership with this bank as an alternative to micro-credit schemes
which are not so successful.

GTZ partner, the Chamber of Commerce in Trincomalee, distributed
payments to 68 small businesses and individuals as microfinance
assistance to tsunami-affected businesses.

The British Council sent four trainers to work with GTZ on training.
They will be teaching 'Skills through English for Public Servants'
(STEPS) at the local and provincial government level. The course aims to
improve workplace efficiency and governance. They will be sitting in the
Management Development and Training Department (MDTD) and will be in
Trincomalee for about a year.

Help-O has conducted a training program on accounting for the small
scale entrepreneurs in Galle district on the 1st and 2nd of March. The
training has been conducted by a consultant of Export Development Board
and Ernst & Young, for 200 tsunami affected beneficiaries who were
earlier trained on the 21st and 22nd of February on Marketing
Strategies.

GTZ distributed four fiber glass reinforced boats, one outboard and
fishing gear this week in Trincomalee

During the IOM reporting period February 1-20, the tsunami damaged
Kotuwegoda Market complex was opened for businesses for 34 vendors in
Matara.

The Income Recovery Programme through the RADA Livelihood Unit provided
awareness training to International and national NGOs that are working
on Tsunami Recovery Infrastructure Projects. The awareness programme
included Labour Law, Labour Standards, Engineering, and contracting and
procurement standards for buildings, roads and small irrigation.

32 Divisional Livelihood Officers of the Income Recovery Programme
received a three-day training in Information Technology in Colombo. This
week the ILO IRTAP (Income Recovery Technical Assistance Programme)
started the distribution of 51 Computers to Divisional Livelihood
Officers.

Divisional Livelihood Planning is ongoing; first round of consultation
have been finalized in Batticaloa, Ampara and Hambantota and Killinochi,
while planning started in Habbaraduwa and Hikkaduwa Divisions in Galle.

RADA conducted on the 2 March a Livelihood Programme to representatives
of Government Agencies, Private Sector and Universities.

Protection

The Christian Children's Fund is conducting children's programs such as
concerts, contests, fairs and small community work activities (cleaning
up) in their 11 youth centers situated in the divisions of Galle Four
Gravets and Hikkaduwa.

A psycho-social centre is being built in Kallady, Batticaloa with
funding from GTZ. The foundation stone was laid early February and
construction work is going on. This centre will provide office space for
Mangrove, the Counsellors Association, Federation for Disable Persons
and the BAMDO- Batticaloa Mental Health Development Organization. This
building also consists of a training centre, two consultation rooms and
two guest rooms for resource persons.

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