Sri Lanka – Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #14 (FY 2009)

OCHA reported that nearly 280,000 IDPs resided in temporary camps as of June 26, including approximately 260,000 people in Vavuniya District camps.

The GoSL requested that ICRC scale down activities in response to the changing humanitarian context. ICRC has begun discussions with GoSL authorities and is reviewing current operations, according to a July 9 ICRC press release.

According to a July 7 UNHCR report, U.N. agencies and NGOs have observed a significant improvement in humanitarian access to IDP sites, as well as a decreased military presence inside the camps. The improved access has allowed more effective implementation of activities to address IDP needs.

According to UNHCR participatory assessments, as of July 7, IDPs have identified overcrowded camp conditions, insufficient access to health care services, and lack of information on separated family members as key concerns. Read more ...

Post-operative care for the war wounded in Sri lanka

18 year old Ramachandra was wounded on 8th January and underwent amputations at a hospital in the Vanni. She was evacuated by ICRC ambulance to the main hospital in Vavuniya eight days later. The young woman is missing her left hand, left leg and half of her right foot. Without post operative care and physiotherapy she could remain bedridden for the rest of her life.

Ramachandra is currently hospitalized in the Pompaimadhu Ayurvedic Hospital close to Vavuniya. Unlike other hospitals in the area, which have been flooded with patients, the Pompaimadhu Hospital appears a haven. No wounded patients lie on mats on the floor and there are no ambulance traffic jams at the hospital entrance. Lots of wheel chairs and crutches donated by Handicap International are placed alongside the beds. At least 30 patients in the hospital have one or more amputations, whilst another twenty-five people are paralyzed. Up to 200 patients receive post operative care here that can include small surgery and physiotherapy. Read more ...

Access to the most vulnerable conflict victims remains vital

In response to questions about the ICRC’s role in the Sri Lanka conflict, the president pointed out that from February until May the ICRC had been the only humanitarian organization operating in the area worst affected by the fighting, under very dangerous conditions, with three ICRC staff killed. The ICRC had evacuated 14,000 sick and wounded (plus their relatives) by ship.

Mr Kellenberger explained that the ICRC had spoken to both sides regarding compliance with international humanitarian law. “In accordance with our normal procedures, we will be discussing the associated issues in confidence with the authorities concerned,” he announced. Read more ...

Sri Lanka: displaced people anxious to receive news from separated family members

The over 250,000 displaced people (IDPs) have many needs. In several waves of displacement over recent months, most lost almost all their personal belongings. Tens of thousands of them who were trapped in a narrow coastal strip in the north-eastern part of the country are the most vulnerable. They went through the harrowing experience of repeated forced displacement and living in a combat zone. A quarter of a million people now need food and drinking water, proper sanitation and shelter, access to medical care and essential items such as cooking utensils. Supplying the needy is an enormous task that is being undertaken by the government, several United Nations agencies, the ICRC and partner organizations in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and other local and international aid organizations. There is still a vast gap to be filled between what is being provided and the needs that must be met – for instance, thousands of people still lack adequate medical care. However, over and above material needs, many displaced people are anxious for news from loved ones with whom they lost contact during the displacement and fighting of the past few months. Read more ...

SRI LANKA: High incidence of combat wounds among evacuees

Relief workers in Sri Lanka report hundreds of war wounds among people fleeing the last pocket of the long-running conflict.

"There are people with shrapnel injuries, others with limbs that need to be amputated," Sarasi Wijeratne, a spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), told IRIN.

Many of their wounds were either infected because bandages had not been changed or they had not been treated properly with antibiotics, she said. Read more ...

Sri Lanka: Vanni Emergency OCHA Situation Report No. 12

- On 13 May, the UN Security Council issued a press statement expressing its grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Sri Lanka and called for urgent action by all parties to ensure the safety of civilians.

- For the third consecutive day, a ferry chartered by the ICRC carrying 25 MT of food has been unable to evacuate patients because of continuous heavy fighting, according to the ICRC. Read more and download report ...

Sri Lanka: third ICRC staff member killed in conflict area

A staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was killed by shrapnel today near Mullivaikal, in the coastal area held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

His mother died in the same incident, which occurred around noon. This is the third time in just over two months that an ICRC employee has been killed inside the conflict zone.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of our friend and colleague Sivakurunathan Majuran and of his mother, and extend our heartfelt condolences to their family and friends," said Paul Castella, the ICRC's head of delegation in Colombo. "This latest tragic incident shows how dangerous it is for everyone in the area." Read more ...

Sri Lanka – Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #7 (FY 2009)

From late October through May 7, approximately 196,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) moved from the contested zone into Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL)-controlled territory, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The figure includes more than 194,000 IDPs in camps in Vavuniya, Mannar, Jaffna, and Trincomalee districts, and approximately 1,700 IDPs in hospitals.

On May 7, an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)-chartered ferry delivered approximately 25 metric tons (MT) of food provided by the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), as well as medical supplies, to the contested zone and evacuated approximately 500 sick or injured IDPs and accompanying caregivers. ICRC noted that security constraints had prevented ICRC evacuations by boat since April 30, and reported heavy fighting near the medical assembly point. Since February 10, ICRC has evacuated approximately 13,000 IDPs from the contested zone. Read more and download report ...

Sri Lanka: Vanni Emergency OCHA Situation Report No. 8

- An ICRC chartered ferry delivered 25 metric tons of WFP food and some medicine to Mullavaikkal in the conflict zone on 7 May 2009. The ICRC ferry was also used to evacuate 495 people from the area. For seven days prior to this operation security constraints had prevented the ICRC from reaching the conflict zone.

- UNHCR was engaged in a two day exercise to allocate 300 emergency shelter to Persons with Specific Needs (PWSN) close to medical and water and sanitation facilities in Menik Farm Zone 2.

- ICRC will start distributing food and NFI packs donated by the Government of India for 20,000 displaced families in Menik Farm.

- On 6 May, MSF France started the construction of a field hospital in the Menik Farm IDP site, following authorization by the Ministry of Health. Read more and download report ...

Sri Lanka: ICRC evacuates 495 from conflict zone and delivers 25 tonnes of food

In north-eastern Sri Lanka, 495 sick and injured patients and accompanying caregivers were evacuated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today. An ICRC-chartered ferry, the Green Ocean I, also delivered 25 metric tonnes of food provided by the World Food Programme, together with some medicines, for distribution among the thousands of civilians still trapped in a small area along the coast within the conflict zone.

"Heavy fighting is taking place near the medical assembly point at Mullavaikkal, which puts the lives of patients, medical workers and ICRC staff at great risk," said Jacques de Maio, the ICRC head of operations for South Asia, in Geneva. "This hampers medical evacuations of wounded civilians and their families." Read more ...

Maximum relief to civilians in No Fire Zone

The Government had given maximum relief and assistance to the Tamil civilians who were still in the clutches of the LTTE in the no fire zone (NFZ). Though there were many obstacles. Government provided 23,000 metric tons of food to the Tamil civilians on April 7, Mass Media and Information Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said. The Minister was addressing a press conference at his ministry yesterday.

He said, even after the ICRC refused to take food to the North the Government used a vessel that was taking patients to send 30 metric tons per day to the civilians and the food was utilised not only by the civilians but also the terrorists.

The efforts taken by the Government were praised by visiting Japanese special envoy Yasushi Akashi who made his seventeenth trip to the North recently. Read more ...

Sri Lanka: thousands of civilians still trapped

"Given the catastrophic situation of thousands of displaced, sick and wounded people still in the conflict area, the parties must do more to protect them and must allow more food and medicine into the area," said Monica Zanarelli, the ICRC's deputy head of operations for South Asia.

Since 10 February, the ICRC has evacuated close to 12,400 people – the sick and wounded and their accompanying relatives – from the conflict area by boat. The ICRC carried out its 28th evacuation on 29 April, with over 520 persons aboard the Green Ocean, an ICRC-chartered ferry.

The previous day, the ferry also brought over 30 tonnes of food donated to the Sri Lankan government by the World Food Programme into the conflict area. Further deliveries are expected in coming days. Read more ...

Sri Lanka – Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #6 (FY 2009)

From late October through April 30, approximately 172,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) moved from the conflict zone into Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL)-controlled territory, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This figure includes IDPs who have left the conflict area but have not yet arrived at the screening points or IDP camps. More than 100,000 IDPs have arrived from the conflict zone since April 20, when GOSL military forces entered the last Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-held area.

From February through April 30, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) evacuated nearly 12,400 IDPs by boat from the conflict zone. Read more ...

Japan provides US$ 4 million emergency grant aid for IDP's in Sri Lanka

The Government of Japan has decided to provide grant aid totalling US$ 4 million (approximately 480 million Rupees) to meet immediate needs of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka through United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Read more ...

German assistance for IDPs increased to 4.7 m Euros

German assistance to Sri Lanka would be increased immediately to over 4.7 million Euros and the Federal Foreign Office will also provide 500,000 Euros to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in aid of internally displaced persons (IDPs), German Federal Foreign Ministry sources said.

Meanwhile the Federal Foreign Minister following a telephone conversation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Jakob Kellenberger issued the following statement: Read more ...

Navy continues its special rescue mission in North-eastern seas: 355 patients and civilians were evacuated on board ‘MV Green Ocean’

Sri Lanka Navy evacuated 355 Tamil civilians and patients on board “MV Green Ocean” on 30th April 2009. The evacuation of patients and civilians trapped in LTTE clutches in the un-cleared areas in Mullaithivu is being carried out under the ICRC flag. Sri Lanka Navy is providing safe passage for evacuees on humanitarian grounds.

The evacuees consisted of 92 adult males, 149 female adults and 114 children in total. Among them were 55 male and 54 female patients needing medical treatment, and they were rushed to the Padaviya Genaral Hospital and Field Hospital in Pulmudai. Read more ...

Switzerland provides humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka and renews its appeals for compliance with international law

In light of the dramatic situation in the north of Sri Lanka, the FDFA is providing emergency humanitarian aid and continues to insist on compliance with international humanitarian law. The victims of the conflict must be protected and helped, and access by humanitarian actors must be guaranteed.

In addition to its annual budget of CHF 6.5 million allocated to Sri Lanka, Switzerland will now provide additional emergency aid of CHF 1 million for the civilian population affected by the conflict in the north of the country. This aid will be used to co-finance programmes run by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Read more ...

Sri Lanka: thousands of civilians still trapped

Thousands of civilians still trapped and at risk inside the conflict area "Given the catastrophic situation of thousands of displaced, sick and wounded people still in the conflict area, the parties must do more to protect them and must allow more food and medicine into the area," said Monica Zanarelli, the ICRC's deputy head of operations for South Asia.

Since 10 February, the ICRC has evacuated close to 12,400 people – the sick and wounded and their accompanying relatives – from the conflict area by boat.

The ICRC carried out its 28th evacuation on 29 April, with over 520 persons aboard the Green Ocean, an ICRC-chartered ferry. Read more ...

Sri Lanka Navy assists ICRC in evacuation of civilians