OCHA Situation Report
Sri Lanka
19 - 25 January 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Situation up-date

- The security situation in Vavuniya remains volatile, with continued 
daily reports of killings and heightened military and police presence in 
the town. The ban on the parking of private vehicles in town continues 
to cause disruptions and most shops are now closing by 18.00hrs.

- According to GoSL figures there are - as of 10th January - 5,586 IDPs 
in Vavuniya and 9,957 IDPs in Mannar. IDP figures have remained stable 
in Vavuniya, but in Mannar there has been a slight increase in number of 
IDPs following the aerial bombings in Padaguthurai in early January.

- On 19th January the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police ordered 
the police stationed at the long term IDP welfare centres at Poonthoddam 
and Sithamparampuram to vacate their posts, apparently because of the 
prevailing security situation in order to redirect resources elsewhere. 
The move, however, has caused major concern amongst the IDPs who are 
concerned for their safety. UNHCR has raised their concern about the 
security of the welfare centres with the Government Agent and DIG in 
Vavuniya.

- The Divisional Secretary (DS) for the Vavuniya north has requested a 
meeting with agencies on 29th January in view of the lack of assistance 
to IDPs in the division. Heath, shelter, education and livelihoods are 
the main sectoral gaps in assistance reported.

Sector up-date

Shelter

- FORUT has completed the construction of 40 emergency shelters in 
Vavuniya north DS division, with the support of UNHCR.

Protection

- In view of the withdrawal of police from the welfare centres (see 
above) agencies in Vavuniya - including UNHCR, UNICEF, OCHA, NRC, and 
Shade - have agreed a timetable of site visits to ensure a protective 
presence at the sites and monitoring of any protection concerns.

- At a ceremony on 21st January presided over by the Government Agent 
and UNHCR, the issuance of camp ID cards began at Poonthoddam welfare 
centre.

- There continues to be reports of forced recruitment taking place in 
LTTE-held areas of Mannar district, especially at sports training and 
youth activities.

Logistics

- UN agencies have met to develop a common format to submit requests for 
transportation of relief items into the Wanni to the Government Agent of 
Vavuniya and discuss ways to harmonise the application procedure.

Food security

FAO held a meeting on 22nd January to present to agencies in Vavuniya 
their food security plan for 2007, based on submission made under the 
Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP).

III. OCHA Coordination/Information Management

- An up-dated response capacity matrix for the revised contingency plan 
for Vavuniya has been compiled, based on information collected from 
agencies.

- Individual meetings with agencies in Vavuniya to introduce OCHA and 
the products and services it can provide have continued with 
GAA/Sewalanka, AMDA, and FORUT, MSF all being met.

- OCHA has supported UNHCR and the UN Focal Point advocate in relation 
to the withdrawal of police from the welfare centre, with meetings held 
with the GA, IDPs and DIG as well as OCHA involvement in protection 
monitoring.

- OCHA has met with the DS Vavuniya north who has requested assistance 
from agencies for IDPs in the division. A field visit will be made to 
the area on 26th January.

- Maps: a) A GN boundary map has been finalized b) information continues 
to be collected for a Vavuniya town map with agency locations c) 
IDP/Access maps are in the process of being up-dated with new IDP 
figures and more details d) a logistics capacity and transportation map 
will be produced for the logistics sector group in Vavuniya.

IV. Administration and finance

- An inventory of office items has been finalized and is in the process 
of being checked.

- DSS have conducted an assessment of the OCHA (temporary) office in 
terms of its compliance with MOSS.

- An office filing system has been created.

V. Assistance requested from OCHA Colombo

- A Sat phone for the office.

- A planned visit to make a decision on the long term office plans for 
OCHA in Vavuniya.

- Advertisement published for GIS Assistant vacancy.

VI. Priorities for next week

- Meet with the landlord of the SCF office

- Inter Agency Meeting with agencies.

- Finalise the response capacity matrix for the up-dated Vavuniya 
contingency plan and prepare for a meeting in Mannar to up-date the 
contingency plan for the district.

- Continue to meet with agencies in Vavuniya to introduce OCHA.

- Finalise inventory and send it to Colombo.

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