About
Lifeline - Humanitarian Information Service for IDPs
Lifeline is a Humanitarian Information Service aimed at improving the access to information for IDPs in Sri Lanka through print and radio productions in Tamil language.
Lifeline broadcasts a 30-minute daily radio show on a national radio station (SLBC) and distributes 30,000 copies of an 8-page weekly newspaper, directly and free of charge, to IDP camps in Vavuniya, and since November, to resettled areas in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu through the Government Agent of Mullaitivu and the World Food Program (WFP).
Through these media productions, Lifeline disseminates relevant and accurate information for IDPs about projects, activities and services that the government, I/NGOs, UN agencies and others are providing, and, more importantly, how these communities can access and benefit from those services.
A balanced mixture of government officials, UN, ICRC and I/NGOs spokespersons have commented on the current situation and their projects for the Lifeline radio show and newspaper every week. The interviews, feature stories, public service announcements and radio dramas produced by Lifeline provide information about services for IDPs, resettlement and future plans for them, and carry important messages on health promotion, hygiene, education, nutrition, safety and protection issues around women and children, and documentation, registration and reunification.
In August 2008, Lifeline signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights (MDMHR) to ensure that beneficiaries have access to government messages and policies. This MoU was signed in the context of contributing to the communication component within the Confidence Building and Stabilization Measures (CBSM), a framework developed by the MDMHR and UNHCR aimed at creating sustainable and safe development for populations in the north and the east, and build confidence among communities and between those communities and government and security forces. This MoU was extended in October 2009.
Lifeline is implemented by Internews Network and has been funded by USAID/OFDA since December 2007. For more than a year, without interruption, Lifeline has produced radio shows and distributed weekly newspapers in the north and east. Since March 1, 2009 Lifeline has broadcast daily on SLBC. Lifeline sends daily updates with the headlines and a digest of the stories in English produced for the radio show. All materials produced by Lifeline (radio shows and newspapers) are available on our website http://lifeline.internews.lk/.
For more information please contact:
Harasha Gunawardene, Resident Advisor
harasha@internews.lk
M: +94 77 974 6284
Christopher Wyrod, Country Director
cwyrod@internews.org
M: +94 77 368 7468
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LISTEN TO LIFELINE
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Monday to Friday, 9.30-10.00pm, on SLBC TAMIL SERVICE (North 90.2, East 102.4, Colombo 101.3). Also every Sunday through PIRAI FM (1.30-2.00pm, 102 FM in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.)
Internews is an international media development organization that empowers local media worldwide to serve the information needs of their communities. Through our programs, we improve the reach, quality, and sustainability of local media (www.internews.org)
