OCHA Situation Report
Sri Lanka
13 - 26 April 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Overall Situation

According to media, a suicide bomber pretending to be pregnant made her 
way into the Sri Lankan Army head quarters on 25 April, then blew 
herself up in front of a car carrying the Sri Lankan army commander, 
killing eight people and wounding the officer and 26 others. As a result 
Sri Lanka's military launched strikes on LTTE areas in the northeast on 
26 April. Some aid workers helping rebuild after the tsunami said they 
were temporarily relocated for security reasons. United Nations agencies 
stayed where they were, but introduced several restrictions on movement.

The United Nation's Secretary-General's spokesperson issued a statement 
strongly condemning the suicide bombing at the Army head quarters in 
Colombo. The Co-Chairs in a statement condemned absolutely the attempted 
assassination of the head of the Sri Lankan army, called on the LTTE to 
cease all suicide attacks and other forms of violence and expressed 
their grave concern about further escalation of violence. The Consortium 
of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) in Sri Lanka called on the Sri Lankan 
Government and the LTTE to desist from acts of violence which will slide 
the country back into war and stop further death, destruction and misery 
to all people. The Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission also condemned the 
bombing in Colombo in a press release issued.

Main challenges and response

Threats to female NGO aid workers in Ampara and Batticaloa districts 
continue with the issuing of a new leaflet which gave a new deadline of 
25 April for female staff to quit their employment with international 
organizations. According to some NGOs female workers have requested 
leave from work and are reluctant to go on field visits with some 
considering resignation as a result of the intimidation. A group of 
NGO's plan to meet in Ampara district the Government Agent, Divisional 
Secretaries and Police/ Special Task Force (STF), Muslim leaders as well 
as the LTTE.

Food security

World Vision Lanka together with the Ministry of Nation Building and WFP 
have implemented a massive school-feeding programme to provide 
mid-morning meals to nearly 8,500 school children in Eravurpattu 
Division in Batticaloa district. The programme is targeting 
tsunami-affected school children in 24 schools in the Kalkudha 
Educational Zone and commence last month. The main objective of the 
project is to increase the attendance of school children, especially in 
tsunami-affected families.

Health

The Kilinochchi Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services confirmed 
that although the government will no longer support voluntary health 
workers they can continue to operate if they have NGO backing. UNICEF is 
supporting volunteers, but there are salary issues.

Non-food items and shelter

IOM is currently assisting in the relocation of 370 families to a site 
in Achchuweli division. All families will receive a temporary shelter on 
15 perches of land, livelihood support and basic facilities such as 
access to clean water, toilets, roads and a community center. The land 
is currently being de-mined to make it safe for settlement.

The Tzuchi Buddhist foundation recently handed over 647 new houses to 
the tsunami-affected in Hambantota. The cost of each house was 700,000 
rupees and the design included a living room, two bed rooms and 
infrastructure facilities.

The Lutheran World Relief together with local partner organization 
Sarvodaya recently inaugurated a housing project in Kalutara district in 
the western province, consisting of 55 family homes with environmentally 
friendly features such as rainwater harvesting and solar panels for heat 
and power. LWR provided household furnishings - including chairs, 
tables, beds and kitchen equipment -- to the families who moved into the 
village.

Education

A Pre-School in Sampoor Maha Vidiyalayam in Muttur east, Trincomalee 
district was constructed by Save the Children Sri Lanka at a cost 1.4 
million rupees was opened on 6 April.

The Centre for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (CPPHR) of 
Trincomalee has conducted a USAID funded nine-month training course on 
Advanced Studies in Human Rights for youth of Trincomalee. The first 
group of 57 youth was recently awarded certificates upon the successful 
completion of the course.

The Canadian Red Cross announced a 10.9 million US dollar vocational 
training program for tsunami-affected women and youth in Sri Lanka. The 
three-year program is in partnership with the World University Service 
of Canada (WUSC). Support from the Canadian Red Cross allows WUSC to 
expand its existing program in Sri Lanka, which is designed to provide 
quality, employment-oriented vocational training, with priority being 
given to tsunami and conflict affected women, orphans, and disabled 
youth.

Livelihoods

Sri Lanka is drawing up a new law to regulate micro-credit organizations 
scattered around the country. The legislation will cover thrift units 
operated by co-operative societies, thrift associations in the Samurdhi 
income support program of the government and other non-governmental 
organizations in the sector. At present no one knows how many NGOs are 
involved in micro-finance or their asset base.

Protection

A new set of recommendations issued on 18 April by the UN in Sri Lanka, 
has directly addressed the issue of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and 
established the mechanisms to effectively prevent, intervene and 
advocate against such abuse. Calling for greater coordination by those 
organizations working to eliminate GBV, the recommendations entitled 
'Working together against GBV', were the outcome of a meeting convened 
by UNHCR in Colombo on 31 March. Bringing together 28 key actors from 
the Government, UN, NGO and civil society communities, the proceedings 
began by highlighting the work currently being done to raise awareness 
of GBV and assist GBV survivors. The gaps were then identified and a 
series of important recommendations were made to ensure an improved 
response nationwide, in support of the government's efforts.

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