Sri Lanka’s humanitarian effort:

Assistance to Jaffna Peninsula

Consequent to the LTTE attack at Muhamalai on August 11, 2006 it was not possible to use the A-9 (the main land route to Jaffna) and this resulted in the following significant challenges with regard to the Jaffna district.

* Supplies to the Jaffna Peninsula, which was through the A9 land route now had to be delivered by sea and air.

* Jaffna which was dependent on about 5,000 private traders for supplies, had to depend on 523 branches of Multi-Purpose Co-operative Societies (MPCS) when private traders ceased trading because of LTTE threats.

* The civilian population of Jaffna felt isolated as they were cut off from the South after road transport and communication between the peninsula and the rest of the island was severed. Uncertainly gripped the people.

The entire effort to keep Jaffna supplied had to depend on sea and air transportation and the CGES commenced operations having to cope with the following challenges:

*The unwillingness of vessel owners to charter vessels to the North due to the terrorist threat, demands of higher charter fares and war risk premiums.

* The inability to use the normal sea routes and the need for lengthy diversions, resulting in additional voyage time and cost.

* Refusal by the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) to lend its flag to enable terrorism risk-free shipping operations.

* Inadequate facilities for unloading at Kankesanturai (KKS) and Point Pedro (PPD) harbours.

* Bad weather during the North-East monsoon that made vessel unloading difficult and risky.

* Sudden breakdown of private trader network owing to LTTE threats and having to narrow down the distribution mechanism from a broader private trader network to a small number of MPCS sales outlets.

* Having to restore the local economy, by ensuring the supply of inputs (e.g. fertilizer) and facilitating the sale of local produce outside the peninsula.

Civilian cargo vessel

GA food convoy

Special logistics hub in Vavuniya

The LTTE attempted to disrupt supplies with attacks to food ships. Thus exerting indirect pressure on government to divert its military assets way from engaging the LTTE, towards protecting supply lines. ICRC refused its presence in supply ships as a monitoring body. In January 2007 LTTE suicide boats attacked MV Liverpool, a civilian cargo vessel which was unloading essential supplies at the PPD harbour. This attack on a civilian vessel resulted in destablising the other vessels that were bringing cargo to the people of Jaffna. The PPD harbour was also closed for operations as it was vulnerable to further attacks by the LTTE. A small fisheries harbour at Myliddy was renovated quickly with the construction of a new pier by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and was used for cargo operations thereafter.

In addition to the attempt of disrupting food supplies, the LTTE made many attempts to disrupt civilian life in Jaffna by instilling a fear psychosis in the minds of the civilians. In its endeaours to bring life to a halt; the schools, public transport, fuel supplies, functioning of the hospitals, etc were closed under LTTE threats.

This LTTE strategy was aimed at creating a humanitarian crisis in the Jaffna peninsula, and to instigate external intervention. The LTTE also attempted to create a siege situation to force the peninsula into submission.

Despite these challenges, the continued efforts of the government resulted in restoring normalcy to Jaffna within a short space of time, providing the required food, medicine, non food needs of the population and ensuring the maintenance of essential services of Jaffna. Special attention was paid during this period to keep the Jaffna economy moving as usual. Subsidy fertilizer provided by the government was sent in two vessels for both seasons of the year. Animal feed required for cattle and poultry farming was also provided regularly. Large quantities of construction materials were regularly supplied to help ongoing housing construction in Jaffna. Arrangements were also made to transport Jaffna produce i.e. Chillies, onions to Colombo by returning ships.

Public transport

With government forces gaining ground, the schools that were closed due to LTTE pressure were reopened within two months. All medical supplies to the Jaffna teaching hospital and other hospitals were airlifted including medical staff. The public transport was enhanced by providing 35 additional buses. Passenger transport in and out of the peninsula by sea and air was established within two months. A regular fuel supply was maintained by hiring a separate vessel by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to supply fuel regularly and also establishing a storage tank to store fuel.

The additional costs were borne by the government. GoSL was implementing a civilian centred humanitarian response.

While the humanitarian assistance to the Jaffna peninsula continued, the CGES made special arrangements to ensure regular supplies continued to the Vanni. Essential supplies into the Vanni were categorized into three groups;

*Monthly rations to the IDPs under the World Food Programme (WFP)

*Supply of essential items to IDPs displaced prior to 2005 by the MRDRS

*All supplies to Co-operative Societies for commercial purposes.

Quantities of food items to be sent to the Vanni un-cleared areas for the abovementioned three categories of recipients were decided in consultation with the WFP, the Ministry of Nation Building, the Ministry of Resettlement and the respective Government Agents (GA) on the ground.

Security forces

With regard to provisions of medical supplies, the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition decided on the quarterly supplies to the two districts in consultation with the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) of the respective districts. Even with the deterioration of the security situation, additional supplies were sent at their request. Once the requirement was decided the request was forwarded to the CGES for facilitation of transport with assistance from the security forces. In order to maintain regular transportation, a fleet of 300 trucks, belonging to the ‘Lorry Owners’ Association’ in Killinochchi were registered with the GA Vavuniya and maintained.

The distribution of food and other essential items in respective districts were carried out by the network of co-operative outlets under the supervision of the GAs and relevant UN staff.

The distribution of food and dry food items among the displaced families was done, based on the ration cards given to each displaced family by the WFP or the GoSL, depending on their category.

Medical supplies were received by the respective RDHS and distributed to all the functioning government hospitals.

LTTE attacks

This process continued until the supply by road was halted in January 2009, due to increasing attacks by the LTTE. The GA Vavuniya was entrusted with the task of coordinating all operations at Vavuniya on behalf of the CGES to ensure effective delivery to the two districts. The UN had its focal point to monitor the operation at the office of the GA Vavuniya. To be continued

Courtesy: Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province 2011