Lifeline print supplement #01
- Interview with GS Muttur on how conflict is affecting children
- CARE provides loans for income generations activities for IDPs in Vavuniya
- Q&As: testimonies on women’s rights
- Ampara floods
- Knowing Your Rights: Every human has the right to adequate housing
- Interview with Nazliya Cader from NRC on how NRC is helping IDPs to get Birth Certificates and other legal support
Lifeline Daily Radio Show #06 (24 Feb 2008)
Keeping the kids in school in Muttur, not an easy task
District Updates:
- According to the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC, umbrella organization which involves Government and Humanitarian agencies) (situation report #113 7-14 February 2008) the number of IDPs, as reported by GAs, is 71,753 families/260,096 people in the North and East provinces.
- IOM builds new houses for displaced people in Trincomalee Eechilampattru Area. The 2nd phase of repairing partly damaged shelters is on the process and expected to be completed by April. Trincomalee IOM Officer, Jeevanandan, says that “225 new shelters have been built and 93 partly damaged houses are renovated in Batticaloa district.”
- Fisheries department, Agricultural department and Pacific area resources are conducting livelihood programme for fisher folk. Additional Director of Jaffna Paddy Department Tharmalingam says 117 fishing families are benefited under this scheme. According to a report released this week by the Department of Agriculture, Jaffna Paddy production has increased 5 times compared to last year.
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Lifeline Daily Radio Show #05 (17 Feb 2008)
IOM assists Returnees from India in Mannar
District Updates:
- Less than two weeks since its launch, the 1929 Child Helpline has received over 130 calls about problems faced by children. These calls are only those recorded by the new emergency child helpline number. More calls were received seeking advice and guidance for children on the regular lines. According to the Secretary, Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Ministry, Indrani Sugathadhasa since this helpline was launched there have been queries about education, adoption options, child abuse, child labour and other questions. The helpline has also received many calls from adults regarding abuse against children they have witnessed in their neighbourhoods.
- Families displaced from Trincomalee district and temporarily settled in Batticaloa district shows willingness to re-settle in their hometown Uppural. Government sources say that 160 families will be re-settled in Mayilavettuvan GS division in the next few weeks.
- Tsunami affected refugees in Ampara District IDP camps face difficulties due to last year’s end floods. On request made by Ampara district GA 600 families are provided with needs by the UNICEF and UNHCR. 560 students assisted with educational tools by UNICEF. Other INGOs are involved in cleaning the areas.
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Lifeline Daily Radio Show #04 (10 Feb 2008)
Child Rights in Puttalam: local NGO helps to raise children’s voices
District Updates
- In Trincomalee the Government has presented a plan for the resettlement and relocation of IDPs from Muttur East HSZ to Ralkuli and Palliyakudiruppu. This is the first stage of the total of 6 GN divisions that are targeted for relocation and resettlement. The plan is to initially relocate 200 families to Ralkuli and 500 families to Pallikkudiyiruppu, where land has been cleared in an inhabited area. In addition, an ambitious plan was presented for immediate livelihood assistance emphasizing agricultural and dairy farming.
- In Batticaloa district, there are currently 19 IDP camps in the district. No official dates have been established for further returns within Batticaloa District or to Trincomalee District. Returns to Mylavadduvan in Chenkalady Division (approximately 140 families) are expected to occur within the next two weeks.
- The Jaffna GA is planning to facilitate a return of 19 IDP families to Allaipidi, Velanai DS Division (Kayts Island). Agencies have expressed some concerns about the current security situation on the island, but authorities have reiterated their intention to organize this return in accordance with the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. UNHCR is advocating with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that any return is voluntary under conditions of safety and dignity.
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Lifeline daily radio show #3 (03 Feb 2008)
Humanitarian agencies provide livelihood support for flood victims in Ampara
District Updates
- According to the Government, updated figures of IDPs in Sri Lanka as of December 31, 2007, has been established to be 187,850. Of this number, 31,843 are still in welfare centers or temporary accommodations, while 156,007 have sought temporary shelter elsewhere mostly with friends and relatives.
- Families resettled in Kalmadu village, in Vavuniya district, are having problems receiving dry food rations as rations continued to be delivered to the Welfare Centre. AGA of the district assures smooth solution for these problems by the end of the month after talks with District Government officers and officers of UNHCR.
- IOM identified 804 beneficiaries for livelihood assistance. The beneficiaries are returnees from India who were displaced following the escalation of the conflict in Trincomalee District in 2006. Assistance will start in the coming weeks.
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