OCHA Situation Report
Sri Lanka
18 - 24 May 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Overall Situation

On Sunday 21 May three hand grenades were lobbed into three INGO offices 
in Muttur, Trincomalee. This unprecedented attack resulted in injuries 
to one international staff member and two civilians. The United Nations 
Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan 
Government, US Embassy, European Union, the Consortium of Humanitarian 
Agencies, the Nonviolent Peaceforce, ZOA and the Tamil Rehabilitation 
Organisation were among the agencies that released statements condemning 
the act and requesting a thorough investigation and protection for aid 
workers.

Construction work on east coast tsunami houses has stalled as a result 
of the prevailing insecure environment compounded by limits on fuel and 
materials and concerns over physical security of staff.

Main challenges and response

OCHA Trincomalee reports that the Divisional Secretary of Town and 
Gravets has emphasized the need for coordination and has reported of one 
organisation not following the coordination mechanism agreed upon by 
most of the agencies assisting the displaced population. Some 
organisations are still not consulting the coordination groups before 
going in the field.

Coordination and common services

The UNCT endorsed the final version of the national and districts' 
inter-agency contingency plans.

OCHA Ampara shared with the District Secretary, the District Disaster 
Management Centre the highlights of the inter-agency contingency plan 
for disaster preparedness.

OCHA Kilinochchi reports that the LTTE is trying to involve UN/NGO staff 
in the compulsory military training. Aid community is drafting jointly a 
letter to ensure exemption.

OCHA Trincomalee has produced maps showing trends of civilian 
displacement in the District. The office is working with coordination 
groups to map out the population and agencies active in displacement 
sites. The challenge is for coordination groups to give proper 
information.

In Galle district, Vulnerability assessment Mapping is complete and a 
final map showing vulnerable areas has been developed.

Food security

In Trincomalee district WFP together with the government is to provide 
food for 6,252 families comprising 21,554 people. However the 
displacement reported last week was 8,910 families comprising 31,595 
people.

Health

People displaced to Eachchilampattai in Trincomalee district are 
potentially at risk of snake bites with no transportation to take them 
to the hospital and furthermore as reported in the previous OCHA 
situation report the Eachchilampattai Hospital is not fully operational. 
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society with the support of other INGOs (MDM, 
Merlin and IFRC) are operating a mobile clinic which is not sufficient 
to meet the needs of the people. Meanwhile Merlin, a British INGO has 
sent a mobile clinic with a team of doctors to Trincomalee District who 
work in Government controlled areas of Trincomalee district. Merlin is 
assessing the situation and is currently visiting the Lingapuram, 
Dehiwaththa, Iruthayapuram, Mallikaithivu and Kanguveli areas twice a 
week.

Water and sanitation

Sanitation needs in the areas of Eachchilampattai in Trincomalee 
district is increasing rapidly while Oxfam is working through it's 
partner EUDA (Eachchilampattai United Development Association - Local 
NGO working in Eachchilampattai) to support needs.

In Galle district the Red Cross is to end bowser water supply end May 
along Galle road. The matter was discussed with the additional 
Divisional Secretary for the tsunami by Red Cross, UNICEF and OCHA and 
on how to inform beneficiaries on the matter. Around 60 tanks have were 
placed along the Galle road by the Red Cross immediately after the 
tsunami to provide clean water and has being supplied continuously ever 
since. A decision was made to paste stickers on tanks informing 
beneficiaries to return to using well water. The Public Health 
Inspectors are to inspect the wells and inform the Red Cross of any 
rehabilitation needs.

In Batticaloa ACF has started construction on 32 toilets in Navalady for 
people who returned back to Navalady from Thiraimadu after the buffer 
zone reduction.

Non-food items and shelter

In Vaharai DS Division in Batticaloa Care International has started 
laying the foundation for permanent houses in Kathiravelly and 
Puchakerny while land allocation and land clearing are on going in 
Palchenai. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is building 
113 houses in Karungalichchoolai in Valaichchenai DS Division for 
tsunami-affected populations of which 30 houses are complete.

Livelihoods

FAO's livestock programme is in the process of distributing more than 
350 cows, over 1,000 goats and almost 21,500 chicks to farmers located 
in nine tsunami-affected districts. Owing to the fragile security 
situation prevailing in the north-eastern districts however, FAO has had 
to temporarily suspend its livestock distribution programme. In 
particular, cattle and goat distribution scheduled to take place in the 
districts of Jaffna and Kilinochchi have been postponed, and will resume 
once the situation is less volatile and the safety of farmers and 
project staff alike can be ensured. A large number of back-yard animals 
perished in the tsunami, and with them, a valuable source of nutrition 
and income for thousands of coastal families. FAO's programme aims to 
replenish some of the lost stock, with a view to providing farmers and 
their families with a quick and sustainable source of income.

ILO is to sign service contracts with five local NGOs to develop 
livelihood related training proposals in 25 selected villages in 
Pottuvil, Kalmunai(Tamil), Kalmunai(Muslim), Sainthamaruthu, Karaitivu 
and Nintavur Divisional Secretariat divisions. A workshop to train the 
staff of these NGOs on community planning, training proposal 
development, training delivery and enterprise formation was conducted 
where 24 participants attended. As an outcome of the workshop, heads of 
these organizations signed and agreed to attend the livelihood training 
preparation work within two months and submit at least 50 training 
project proposals. The implementation of these projects would bring 
direct benefits to 600 tsunami-affected persons in Ampara district.

In Batticaloa district Help Age Sri Lanka has formed 33 Older People 
Associations to empower the livelihood of aged persons. Through the 
association partial grants were given to beneficiaries to start 
livelihood activities such as home gardening, poultry and cattle 
farming, a small business, pottery, etc. Grant amounts vary from between 
Rs. 3,000 to 20,000.


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