The May 2011 Joint Humanitarian and Early Recovery Update released on June 24th by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states, that a total of approximately 220,000 persons are still displaced in the ‘former conflict regions’.
The highlights of the report as follows:
I. Situation overview and highlights
– Between 1‐31 May 2011, 171 people (58 families) arrived from Menik Farm and Kodikamam Ramavil camps in their areas of origin in Mullaitivu District (Maritimepattu Divisional Secretariat Division) and Kilinochchi District (Karachchi Divisional Secretariat Division). Approximately 2,130 IDPs (620 families) living with host families also returned to their homes in Maritimepattu and Oddusuddan Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSD), in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi Districts respectively.
– Another 1,325 persons (331 families) displaced in various districts, including Puttalam, registered as returnees to all DSDs in Mannar District. In addition, 119 persons (32 families) displaced prior to 2008, and living in welfare centres in the Vavuniya District, deregistered from the sites and relocated to other areas within the same District.
-The total population returned to the Northern Province now stands at 365,082 people (110,652 families) – 209,138 people (65,959 families) displaced after April 2008 and 157,269 persons (45,024 families) displacedbefore April 2008. Planning and reports indicate resettlement will pick up pace during June.
– At the end of May, 17,488 IDPs (5,284 families) displaced after April 2008 remained in camps awaiting return to their areas of origin. An additional 8,521 IDPs (2,360 families) from the protracted or long‐term caseload (displaced prior to April 2008) remained in welfare centres. Long‐term solutions are also sought by a total 189,221 IDPs living with host families: 59,319 persons (10,704 families) displaced after April 2008, as well as 129,902 long‐term IDPs (17,570 families).
– A recent series of consultations with authorities in Vavuniya and Mullaitivu Districts on IDP priorities in Menik Farm indicate that the government is keen on resettling the remaining displaced people in their respective homes during 2011. However the humanitarian community is concerned about suggestions that the Menik Farm IDPs may be moved to a temporary site in Mullaitivu District. Humanitarian actors continue to support the government in its commitment to seek durable resettlement solutions for IDPs in Menik Farm. Note: significant further developments on this issue will be reported in June JHU.
– A total 5,632 IDPs (1,702 families) remained stranded in transit situations: 1,767 recent IDPs in the five districts (470 families) and 3,865 long‐term displaced persons (1,232 families).
– On 2 May 2011, government authorities handed over the Omanthai Central College in Vavuniya District to school authorities, following the closure of the rehabilitation camp for alleged former combatants housed in its premises.
– In Kilinochchi District, the Inter‐Sector forum convened for the first time on 26 May since humanitarian partners evacuated the District in September 2009. A proposal to hold a common Inter‐Sector forum for the Northern Province, meeting alternatively in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi Districts, is on the table. This would strengthen planning and coordination, as a straightened funding situation leaves fewer operational partners on the ground to address continuing humanitarian vulnerabilities.
Funding
– The European Commission will provide EUR 11 million for humanitarian projects targeting the most vulnerable in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. In accordance with its Humanitarian Implementation Plan (from July 2011 to December 2012), ECHO will support projects in the priority areas of protection, humanitarian demining, coordination, food/livelihoods, transitional shelter, health, and water and sanitation. The European Commission intends to phase out its humanitarian engagement in Sri Lanka by the end of 2012, as development programmes escalate in the conflict‐affected region.
– By 22 June 2011, nearly US$62 million (21.8%) has been received against the total requirement of US$289 million in the Joint Plan of Assistance for the Northern Province in 2011.
– By 22 June 2011, approximately US$23 million (51.2%) has been mobilized against the revised Flash Appeal requirement of US$46 million to address the underfunded needs of approximately 1.2 million people affected by the January‐February floods in primarily the Eastern, Northern and North‐Central Provinces.
TC