OCHA Situation Report
Sri Lanka
31 March - 6 April 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Overall Situation

The Reconstruction and Development Agency held a donor briefing on March 
28 to inform on the need to provide support to families still living in 
transitional shelters until permanent solutions can be provided.

Hundreds of men, women and their children held a two-hour protest in 
front of the Trincomalee office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission 
(SLMM) on 27 March. Members of four fisheries co-operative societies 
demanded that they be allowed to fish in the Trincomalee Harbor Sea, or 
be given relief to enable them to live without the income from fishing. 
The Sri Lanka Navy has imposed a complete ban on fishing in the 
Trincomalee Harbor Sea from the beginning of this year. Since then about 
two hundred fisher families living around the area have lost their daily 
income and are fighting for their survival.

OCHA Killinochchi reports that all agencies in Killinochchi spend much 
time in meetings with the LTTE's Planning and Development Secretariat 
(PDS) and Government Agent (GA's) to deal with technicalities, designs 
and complaints. OCHA Killinochchi has identified a need for a dedicated 
liaison person, to act on behalf of all of the agencies as a focal point 
for new directives, to channel complaints, and to answer concerns and be 
a central focus for information between the authorities and the 
agencies. The agencies are short staffed and need to concentrate on 
building, but time is being wasted in bilateral meetings. A focal point 
for construction could help to formalise and disseminate policy and work 
on advocacy issues across the board.

UNDP have launched a loan scheme through six participating banks for 
50,000 Sri Lankan rupees over a three year repayment period with a six 
month grace period. A joint awareness campaign with the Reconstruction 
and Development Agency (RADA) is ongoing to promote the loans.

IOM's tsunami-affected people registration process continues on the east 
coast of Sri Lanka. On April 5, the registration process began in 
Batticaloa district. To date, information on 13,000 head of families 
(representing 50,000 people) had been collected in Ampara district. 
Since the commencement of the registration process in December 2005, 
some 110,000 heads of families have been registered -- this represents 
information on close to 450,000 tsunami-affected people.

Sri Lanka celebrated its first International Mine action day on 4 April. 
Mine related casualties have dropped by 75 per cent since the Cease Fire 
Agreement was signed.

World Health Day is on 7 April. The theme for this year's World Health 
Day is "Working together for health" focusing on the health workers - 
the people who provide health care to those who need it - the heart of 
health systems. In Sri Lanka an opening ceremony on the morning of 7 
April will be held and co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and will 
include speeches and seminars on the theme "Working together for 
health".

Main challenges and response

The GA Kilinochchi had delivered a message from the Governor of the 
north and east that from 1 April 2006 volunteers can not be used in 
hospitals and schools. The head of the rural health institutions 
explained that many hospitals rely on volunteers to run, and most 
village dispensaries and rural hospitals may be paralyzed without them. 
Volunteers usually cover the most rural areas as well as the main health 
centres.

In Ampara concern has been raised regarding the deterioration of 
relations with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources. 
Repeated requests for critical information on catch capacity, needs and 
gaps in the district, and policy information have been promised for 
months and not delivered.

Coordination and common services

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) under the Ministry of 
Child Development and Women's Empowerment has signed an agreement with 
ILO to support training programmes for partners of multi-disciplines 
(surveillance personnel, care-givers, district child protection 
committee members and partners who support the elimination of child 
labour). As part of strategic interventions post-tsunami, the NCPA 
proposes to pilot-test the implementation of Minimum Standards and 
Guidelines for Care Giving Institutions in the tsunami-affected areas (6 
centres have been selected) through a mobile unit comprising trainers 
from the NCPA. A module on the issue of corporal punishment is presently 
being developed by the NCPA and will be integrated into the training 
curriculum as well.

The consultants of National United Nations Volunteers DRMU visited Galle 
district to hold discussions with actors involved in Disaster Management 
in order to develop the National Plan for Disaster Preparedness and 
Response.

Food security

A team of WFP officials engaged in collecting new FFW (Food for Work) 
project proposals in Hambantota district from government counterparts 
and partner INGOs, for the year 2006. So far, more than 40 projects have 
been identified in the district under the FFW program. Training of 
health staff on the preparation and use of WFP's supplementary food Corn 
Soya Blend (CSB) was also conducted in Hambantota.

Health

OCHA Killinochchi reports that there are over 150,000 people in the 
district and nine health facilities, four medical officers of health 
areas with a staffing rate of 20 per cent. Kilinochchi needs 52 midwives 
but have only five. Kandaveli needs 11 public health attendants and have 
only one midwife. The district hospital in Killinochchi needs to be 
upgraded to a General Hospital.

OCHA Batticaloa reports that Wat/san actors raised their concern on 
Predeshiya Saba's (local government institution) negligence in garbage 
disposal in the camps in Vaharai Division as it might create a major 
health hazard. It was decided to contact the Predeshiya Saba to point 
out their lack of action.

In collaboration with St. John's Ambulance Brigade, UNDP Strong Places 
Programme organised a two-day First Aid Training in Matara Division on 
Tue 28 and 29 March for 64 members representing different community 
based organisations of the area.

Water and sanitation

The Regional Epidemiologist reported that soakage pits constructed for 
the permanent houses handed over to the beneficiaries in Kumpurupiddi, 
Kuchchaveli DS division in Trincomalee district were not appropriately 
constructed. The Public Health Inspector (PHI) of the area is taking 
necessary action to rebuild them. As a follow-up action, the Kuchchaveli 
DS was informed by of this issue and he requested the support of the PHI 
to inspect the construction before handover.

Permanent Shelter construction is in progress at Pavalkulam, Kuchchaveli 
DS division in Trincomalee district. The site does not have a water 
supply at the moment. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board 
reported that they are looking for feasibility and funding for new water 
schemes.

A proposal was submitted by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board 
to USAID. The proposal is to get funding to lay pipeline and provide 
water for the permanent shelter construction at Perker Road, Kuchchaveli 
DS division. USAID is in the process of determining the feasibility of 
funding this proposal.

The Public Health Inspector responsible for Sambaltivu mentioned that 
the entrance to the toilet and kitchen is very close at permanent houses 
under construction at Konesapuri, Town and Gravets DS division in 
Trincomalee district.

The French Red Cross is in the process of assessing the needs of 
latrines in inland areas in Batticaloa district. Once they complete the 
survey their plans will be shared with the Wat/san Task Force. French 
NGO, ACTED had distributed two Del Aqua kits to Batticaloa Deputy 
Provincial Director of Health and trained 49 Public Health Inspectors on 
water quality testing.

An assessment of UNICEF WASH supplies in response to the tsunami was 
conducted in Sri Lanka during 1 - 7 April. The main objective of the 
evaluation was to assess UNICEF WASH supplies during the three stages of 
the emergency: initial relief phase; early recovery phase; and the 
reconstruction phase. The evaluation team visited tsunami-affected 
districts including Galle and Hambantota where the team met with 
implementing partners and government officials. Visits to transitional 
and permanent housing were also made in order to obtain first hand 
impression of the level and quality of services provided

IOM in Ampara has started Hygiene Promotion workshops in Ampara 
district. The workshops are an ongoing programme expected to reach over 
1,000 families still living in transitional shelters in the district. 
Almost 100 IOM shelter residents participated in the first two workshops 
held in Alayadivembu division. IOM continues water and sanitation 
activities in the districts of Ampara, Matara and Kalutara. To date, IOM 
has constructed over 300 toilets, and over 30 wells at transitional 
shelter sites.

On 28 March, 20 families living in tsunami-affected Godagama of 
Hikkaduwa, received Rainwater Harvesting Systems. The units have been 
constructed with the participation of beneficiaries and training has 
been given on the use and maintenance of the system. The funding is part 
of US$ 1 million that has been granted by USAID and the project is 
supported by UNICEF.

Non-food items and shelter

In Mullaitivu, Killinochchi district agencies are building 2,983 
permanent houses under the co-financing system and the additional GA for 
Mullaitivu expects another 2,500 permanent houses to be built by 
agencies. The total need is 5,464 permanent houses. (2124 transitional 
shelters were built).

In Killinochchi the German Red Cross is to construct 300 houses in 
Upumaveli and 328 houses in Vannamkulam where construction has begun on 
220 houses. Hudec Caritas has started construction work on 83 houses in 
Muallaitivu while 40 are complete. The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation 
(TRO) is to build 100 houses in Silawathai South in Mullaitivu and has 
already started construction on 20 houses. Toilets were been built with 
financial assistance from the Danish Red Cross but has been stopped by 
the Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS) as they do not conform to 
new standards (soakage pit and septic tank). In Kallapadu North 100 
toilets have been completed by UNICEF and 50 well constructions and 25 
houses are complete. In Semmalai East TRO is building a primary health 
centre and a vocational training centre and a pre-school with a 
babysitting centre. In Kallapadu South in Mullaitivu the Norwegian NGO 
FORUT plans to build 111 houses and has started construction on one. 
INGO Don Bosco is building 69 houses in Mullaitivu town while 16 are 
complete. In Mathalan and Ammylan Povikali in Mullaitive, CARE has built 
120 toilets and 80 wells.

In Killinochchi the NGO Solidar is to construct a total of 1,125 
permanent houses. Solidar have the highest construction commitment out 
of the NGOs in Maranthankerny, working in three major areas and six 
sites. Solidar hope to hand over the first 20 houses soon, but they are 
still waiting for decisions on Watsan from the NGO Forut. They hope to 
finish all construction by the end of the year. World Vision is building 
30 houses in Pokkaruppu and 121 in Pothpathy in Killinochchi district.

CARE International will start moving materials and prepare to start 
construction within the next 3-4 weeks in Palchenai, Puchchakerny and 
Kathiravelly in Vaharai Division Batticaloa district.

According to the Tsunami Housing Reconstruction Unit a total of 213 
permanent houses have been handed over to beneficiaries so far in Matara 
District.

Education

World Vision is in the process of reconstructing eight preschools and 
eight schools in Kuchaveli, Town and Gravets, Muthur, and 
Eachchilampattai in Trincomalee district. The foundations for all eight 
preschools are complete.

Jointly with the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, UNICEF Early 
Childhood Section is organizing a national event on nutrition under the 
theme ""A helping hand to childhood through better nutrition". The event 
will run for the whole month of May in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. 
Meanwhile UNICEF provided learning material (exercise books, rulers, 
pens, pencils, crayons, etc.) for 18'500 tsunami-affected students in 
Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Thunukkai education zones.

Livelihoods

World Vision is implementing a cash-for-work road rehabilitation project 
in Valaithoddam, Eachchilampattai, Thaqwa Nagar and Muttur in 
Trincomalee. One hundred and three men and four women are participating 
in Muttur while 117 men and 135 women are rehabilitating a 2.5 km road 
stretch in Eachchilampattai.

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