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Sri Lanka’s humanitarian effort

The Sri Lankan state is in the process of compiling a study on the humanitarian projects carried out by the government in post-conflict times in the North. Following are some of the focuses of this study

During the period January 2008 to early May 2009, 58,393 metric tons of essential items were sent to Killinochchi and Mullaithivu districts alone. This was in addition to the excess paddy available in the districts, the buffer stocks maintained on location and 33,383 metric tons supplied to co-operative outlets during 2008 up to January 2009.

Training courses for IDP youth. File photo

Every month, five to 600,000 litres of fuel was sent to each district, well knowing that if it falls into the hands of the LTTE. The fuel was to be used primarily for operation of hospitals and essential services such as transport. Fuel was also made available to operate vehicles of UN, ICRC and other agencies (including NGOs) engaged in humanitarian assistance. Supply of kerosene oil was ensured so that the civilians could cook, operate their farming equipment, and meet other household requirements.

After the WFP and other organizations relocated to Vavuniya towards the latter part of 2008, during a four-month period from October that year, the WFP carried 12 convoys delivering 7,694 metric tons of food to the districts of Killinochchi and Mullaithivu.

Essential items

In October 2008, when WFP consignments were delayed, CGES intervened and directed GA Vavuniya to purchase and dispatch to Killinochchi and Mullaithivu an emergency consignment costing Rs. 63 million of sugar, lentils, flour and vegetable oil. CGES issued orders to maintain a three month buffer stock of 750-1,000 metric tons in each district costing Rs.43 million.

With the commencement of use of sea routes in January 2009 inspite of unwillingness of vessels to sail to Mullaivaikkal and Putumattalan, CGES made arrangements to send 4,218 metric tons of food, but was only able to deliver 3,150 metric tons.

Large quantities of medicines were also delivered using the sea routes. On April 28, 2009, the merchant vessel MV Thirupathi with a cargo of 1,068 metric tons of essential items had to be diverted to Jaffna from Putumattalan as the LTTE prevented unloading of supplies.

The Sri Lankan government continued to maintain the school network and provide education for the children. All salaries of education personnel, including those serving in school in un-cleared areas was paid by GoSL. Free schoolbooks were regularly distributed along with school uniforms. The two important national examinations, General Certificate of Education - Ordinary Level and Advanced Level, were conducted, in spite of attempts by the LTTE to prevent students from sitting the examination and gaining entry into Universities.

Emergency treatment

In 2008, about 80 percent of the eligible students under the new syllabus and about 50 percent under the old syllabus sat for the Advanced Level examination.

Sri Lankan government continued to staff and run medical hospitals in the conflict areas sending medical supplies at regular intervals in quarterly cycles. Medical supplies for hospitals in un-cleared areas were handed over to the RDHS at Omanthai. There were approximately 900 government health staff in Mullaithivu and Killinochchi alone. These supplies and services were supplimented by ICRC and INGOs. Following the forcible civilian displacement, government health services provided by the Northern Provincial Council moved with the people towards Mullaithivu together with health staff.

Patients requiring further treatment were initially transferred by road, and thereafter by sea when road travel was not possible. Nearby hospitals (Vavuniya) were used for treatment. When transportation by sea commenced they were treated at Trincomalee and Padaviya hospitals, which were quickly upgraded with supplies and equipment. An Indian field hospital established in Pulmudai provided emergency treatment.

Welfare villages

GoSL also sent medical experts regularly to monitor nutritional levels, sending necessary supplies for the use by children under five years and pregnant and lactating mothers. Following the detection of nutritional high-energy biscuits in the possession of LTTE cadres, the GoSL sent Thriposha and Soya blend as an alternative. On January 17, 2011, the New Yorker reported that during the last days of the hostage rescue operations, children found chocolates and meat in LTTE bunkers.

The facilities at the welfare villages took many forms. Shelter was provided as tents, because many relief agencies were reluctant to accede to the government request to provide more permanent structures fearing that such would result in the IDPs being held in the village for more than necessary periods of time. Each welfare village was divided into blocks of shelters (tents), which had their own kitchens, toilets, water points, tube wells, bathing, and child friendly spaces. Special priority was given for recreational areas. Shelters were provided with electricity and toilets located within accessible distances. Later, nearing the monsoon rains, the GoSL issued two bags of cement per tent to maintain dry floors. More than 20 litres of water per person per day was delivered and used.

In addition for bathing and other purposes, water supply was increased to 40 litres. Separate bathing areas for women were specifically constructed. The water services provided met and exceeded Sphere standard adopted by WHO as the standard for emergency situations.

Absence of water related epidemics demonstrate the efficacy of the water and sanitation provided. Special public health inspectors we appointed monitor the water sources. Communicable diseases that had infected some of the IDPs while in captivity of the LTTE was quickly treated and effectively controlled from spreading. Even with the monsoon rains, there was not a single case of dengue within the village.

Civil society

Cooked food packets were initially distributed, to be followed by cooked meals. Thereafter progressively community kitchens we built, and individual family cooking introduced as the next step. WFP provided basic rations complemented by civil society (e.g. Rotary International) providing other complementary foods and equipment.

The people in all parts of the country galvanized its efforts to send in enormous quantities of humanitarian assistance, continuously for several months. Ultimately, such efforts had to be suspended due logistical difficulties in coping with the quantum of assistance. Doctors and others volunteered their services and the public officials who were IDPs were engaged and salaries paid. Establishment of Cooperative outlets, facilitating sale of products of IDPs to commence their livelihood activities were also arranged. Nutrition surveys were carried out as part of health review of the IDPs.

Emphasis was given to the preventive side of healthcare. A dedicated Medical Officer was appointed to be in charge of each welfare village, functioning as healthcare managers as well.

Vocational training institutes

Medical supplies were provided on time in adequate quantities. Each village had a referral hospital and a primary health care centre with separate wards for male and female patients. In addition specially made three-wheeler ambulances were provided for each village.

Subsequently special mental health clinics were conducted to deal with psychological issues faced by IDPs with ‘Happiness Centres’ for children with television, computers, books, drawing material, and other recreation equipment. Crude daily mortality rate (deaths per day per 10,000 population) settled at less than 0.5 per 10,000 per day, which is the threshold rate for South East Asia.

Schools were established in all main welfare villages for all levels of children along with pre-schools and vocational training institutes. A Zonal Director of Education was appointed to each village to coordinate education activities.

The Examination Department conducted examinations through 10 centres allowing children including 166 ex-LTTE child soldiers to sit for their respective examinations. UNICEF and other NGOs partnered with GoSL.

In all welfare villages places of religious worship of different denominations we established for worship. Substantial banking facilities were provided and both state and private sector banks established outlets/branches. The banks had a total of 1908.7 million rupees (US$ 17.3 Million) as deposits.

Special arrangements were made to help IDPs reconstruct their legal documents and their legal identities. Temporary identity cards were issued to all adults. Several NGOs conducted programmes within the village explaining to the IDPs their rights and the way to access governmental and other services.

Communication centres and post offices (total of 61) were established. The village inhabitants were connected with the rest of the world. Special transport port facilities were provided to attend funerals etc outside the village.

Humanitarian assistance

Resettlement process commenced with demining progressing and the concurrent development of essential infrastructure. Prior to this IDPs such as elders, pregnant mothers, families with infants, differently abled persons, patients with chronic and serious illnesses, university students, priests, and non nationals were sent to their next of kin with a written assurance that they will be looked after.

GoSL has completed the resettlement of a large number of IDPs in their places of origin. The IDP crisis that was faced by the GoSL was enormous in comparison to any standard. The GoSL together with UN led humanitarian partners faced the challenge and successfully overcame the attending difficulties to complete what could be termed a major achievement in the field of humanitarian assistance.

 

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