Sri Lanka: Aid community issues humanitarian plan

(New York, 3 March 2008): The Interagency Standing Committee Country Team in Sri Lanka has issued a Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) for humanitarian and early recovery assistance during 2008. The CHAP requests $146.2 million for 108 projects to be carried out by 38 organizations. The Plan focuses on 11 key sectors, to address the needs of conflict-affected communities in northern districts as well as of the 130,000 people in the east of the country, who require support in rebuilding their homes and reestablishing their livelihoods.

Requirements covered in the Plan include food aid, shelter/non-food items/camp management, protection, economic recovery and infrastructure, agriculture, health care, water and sanitation, education, and nutrition. Of the $146.2 million, $47 million is required to address the most urgent needs during the first three months of the Plan's implementation. The CHAP also stipulates that sustained and safe access to needy populations is a prerequisite to its successful implementation.

'While last year's generous donor response allowed us to implement important projects, I remain concerned about the ability of aid staff to gain access to those in need, especially in conflict areas,' said John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. 'All parties to the conflict must respect the neutrality of aid workers, who all too often put their own lives on the,' he added.

Food aid comprises one-third of the funds required in the plan. During the crucial first quarter, $12.5 million of the overall food requirement of $48.9 million is needed to secure the pipeline for food supplies for three months, including corn-soya-blend (CSB), a basic supplementary feeding ingredient used to combat malnutrition.

Helping to meet needs for shelter and non-food items will require $32.1 million. Of this, $14.8 million is immediately needed to ensure adequate provision of emergency shelter and supplies for internally displaced people (IDPs) as well as to facilitate their return to their homes in the east. In cooperation with authorities in the conflict-affected northern areas, work is underway to identify potential sites for anticipated new displacement. Pre-positioned shelter materials including lightweight tents and plastic sheeting are also required.

The protection of civilians remains a key challenge in Sri Lanka. The United Nations and partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working closely with government counterparts, local authorities and protection networks to address protection concerns faced by civilians - especially children - caught up in the conflict, and to support returning communities. Of the $14.1 million required for 2008, $3 million is needed immediately to ensure adequate protection monitoring, reporting and response during the next three months.

During 2007, the focus of the conflict in Sri Lanka moved from the east to certain parts of the north. As the situation in the east stabilized, the Government supported the return of IDPs to their homes, following clearance of landmines.

As returns continue in the eastern areas of the country, new displacement is taking place along the forward defence lines. The number of IDPs from the current phase of the conflict has reached 190,000, including some 70,000 residents in the northern Jaffna peninsula, who remain extremely isolated and in need of food aid and other basic assistance. Fighting is expected to intensify during the next weeks and months, as the Government targets the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam's remaining stronghold in the country's north. Shifting conflict lines, aerial bombardments and general fear and insecurity is expected to result in additional inter- and intra-district displacements, creating significant and urgent humanitarian needs.

Since the conflict began nearly three decades ago, more than 70,000 people have lost their lives. In the first two months of 2008, hundreds more have been killed, including at least 80 civilians, who died when buses operating outside of the conflict areas were targeted with parcel and claymore bombs.

For further information, please call: Christina Bennett, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 8059, mobile +1 917 435 8617; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570.