Tens of thousands of people have fled areas affected by fighting in the Mannar and Kilinochchi districts following an escalation of hostilities between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in northern Sri Lanka. Among those displaced – most of whom headed towards Kilinochchi – are people who have had to abandon their homes several times in recent months.

Access to food, shelter, sanitation and clean water is an urgent priority. Although health facilities in the area are struggling to cope with the increased demand, they have so far been able to meet the population's basic needs. However, the evolving situation will require continuous monitoring.

In the Vanni – where it works closely with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society – the ICRC has distributed relief items to those most recently displaced, providing over 16,500 people in Thunukkai, Karachchi, Oddusuddan, Puthukkudiyirippu and Pooneryn with approximately 4,300 family-sized hygiene kits, 1,480 baby-care parcels and 860 emergency household kits containing bed linen, towels, sleeping mats and mosquito nets. Temporary shelter materials, including cadjans, timber frames and wooden poles, were also distributed to the displaced, including those living with host families to help them accommodate their relatives.

Although the upsurge in fighting is making it increasingly difficult for humanitarian workers to gain access to certain areas, the ICRC will continue to provide assistance to those affected by the conflict. In order to ensure prompt and effective assistance, the organization is coordinating its action with other humanitarian agencies both in Colombo and in the Vanni.

"Many people have received basic humanitarian relief but as the number of displaced persons increases, so do their needs," said Anthony Dalziel, the ICRC's deputy head of delegation in Sri Lanka. "We are committed to staying the course and helping all those who have been affected by the most recent wave of violence in Mannar and the Vanni."


Sixth round of war-surgery seminars

In July, the ICRC held a sixth round of war-surgery seminars for Sri Lankan medical practitioners in Jaffna and Anuradhapura. The purpose of the seminars is to upgrade the treatment and management of war wounds by spreading knowledge of the latest surgical developments in this field. Some 50 surgeons, doctors, nurses and physiotherapists working in conflict areas attended the seminars in 2008. They include practitioners both from referral hospitals that routinely deal with war wounds and from rural hospitals.

"The seminars, conducted by two experienced war surgeons, provide an opportunity for medical specialists to discuss cases, exchange ideas and increase their understanding of how best to deal with emergency situations arising from conflict," said Morven Murchison, head of the ICRC's health team in Sri Lanka.

Omanthai crossing point

Acting as a neutral intermediary, the ICRC is present at the Omanthai crossing point six days a week to facilitate the passage of civilians and their vehicles between government-controlled and LTTE-held areas. After a security incident on 1 July, ICRC staff temporarily withdrew from Omanthai, but they returned to the crossing point on 7 July after obtaining safety assurances from both the government and the LTTE. Apart from this brief interruption, the ICRC has been present at the checkpoint throughout the year. In June and July it facilitated the passage of nearly 44,000 civilians and 5,360 vehicles. Over 350 ambulances carrying more than 1,800 patients made the crossing during the same period.

The ICRC also facilitates the transfer of mortal remains of fighters from both the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE. In June and July it transferred the remains of 120 fallen fighters, thus helping to establish the fate of many who would otherwise have remained unaccounted for. Efforts to upgrade the cold-storage facility at the Padaviya hospital, which is used to help preserve bodies pending their transfer, are ongoing.

Protecting civilians and persons held in connection with the conflict

The ICRC has continued to monitor possible violations of international humanitarian law affecting civilians throughout the country and to discuss its findings with the parties to the conflict.

With the cooperation of both government officials and the LTTE, the ICRC has visited a growing number of people arrested in relation to the armed conflict. The aim of its visits is to monitor the treatment of detainees and their conditions of detention.

In June and July, ICRC delegates carried out more than 180 private interviews with over 1,200 security detainees in over 140 places of detention in areas under the control of the government.

During the same period, ICRC delegates delivered family messages to five security detainees held by the LTTE in the Vanni.

The ICRC provided the families of nearly 765 detainees with financial aid so that they could visit their relatives in various places of detention. Over 100 newly released detainees also received funds enabling them to return home by public transport.

Restoring family links

Together with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, the ICRC helps families split up by the conflict to keep in touch through Red Cross messages. In June and July, the ICRC collected nearly 300 such messages and delivered 200.

In June and July, the ICRC also:

improved access to health care

• Over 145 patients benefited from the services of the Jaffna Jaipur Centre for Disability Rehabilitation. Ten patients received crutches and other walking aids while six patients received wheelchairs.
• Almost 180 patients requiring specialized medical care, accompanied by 120 caregivers, were transported on ICRC-chartered flights between Jaffna and Colombo. Nearly 60 doctors took these flights, either accompanying patients or to fulfil official duties.

• Batticaloa district: The ICRC supplied more than 7,400 returnees with food parcels and kitchen sets, and with personal hygiene and baby-care items. Almost 2,000 returnees were given fishing nets, casting nets and agricultural implements, including a water pump, to help them resume their livelihoods. In addition, some 600 personal hygiene kits and 75 baby-care parcels were distributed to over 2,000 internally displaced people.
• Trincomalee district: Around 7,900 returnees received over 1,300 food parcels, over 1,000 personal hygiene kits, over 1,600 tarpaulins, and jerrycans. In addition, they were given emergency kits containing bed linen, towels and mosquito nets, and kitchen sets with cookers and cooking utensils. A total of 185 bicycles were also distributed to returnees.
• Kilinochchi district: Close to 800 returnees received over 4,000 kg of seed, including tomato, pumpkin, brinjal, bitter gourd, onion, long bean and spinach seed. They were also given five water pumps, 40 loads of manure and agricultural tools.
• Vavuniya and Mannar districts: Over 960 individuals received 65 baby-care parcels, almost 380 personal hygiene kits and tarpaulins, and about 40 emergency kits. Some 900 residents of Cheddikulam DS division were given over 40,000 kg of fertiliser.
• Jaffna district: The ICRC distributed 30 personal hygiene kits, 650 baby-care parcels and 20 tarpaulins to more than 2,900 residents. Around 460 host families were given baby-care items.
  
  

• Ampara district: Six wells were repaired or cleaned in Pokurugama and three hand pumps were repaired in Dehiattakandiya.
• Batticaloa district: Fifteen bathing wells were cleaned and chlorinated. Ninety replacement tarpaulins were distributed among returnees living in Kiran and Mavadivembu sites. Around 55 toilet brushes and 20 garbage bins were distributed to maintain sanitation. The ICRC donated two 5,000-litre water tanks to the Vavunativu Pradeshiya Sabha.
• Jaffna district: The ICRC completed the construction of the apron at the Masiyapitti Welfare Centre. Wells were repaired or cleaned on Pungudutivu and Mandaitivu islands and in Velanaicharti. Renovations of the ward and kitchen of Thellippalai Hospital were completed.
• Kilinochchi district: Twenty-five wells were cleaned and repaired in Ganeshapuram, Alankulam, Barathinagar, Thirunagar, Manthai West and Karachi DS division and at the Anaivilunthan school. Nearly 350 units of shelter material were distributed in 12 villages in Thunnukkai and Putukkudiyirippu. Almost 90 shelters were built in Thunnukkai. The ICRC donated three incinerators to the Vellankulam health-care facility in Mantai West.
• Trincomalee district: Forty-six shelters and three wells were built (two wells were also cleaned) and around 170 tarpaulins were distributed among returnees in Sennakulam, Paddalipuram,Sumedankarapura and Veeramanagar. Three toilets were built in Neenakerny. Ten wells were built and cleaned, and three water tanks were installed, in Thangapuram and Indikatugama.
• Vavuniya and Mannar districts: The ICRC distributed nearly 70 family tents to accommodate some 230 newly displaced people in Kalimoddai. Twenty garbage bins, two bathing areas and four 5,000-litre tanks were also provided. The ICRC is renovating Cheddikulam Hospital and has donated a generator to Mannar Hospital.
  
  

• As part of its efforts to increase respect for international humanitarian law, the ICRC conducted nearly 50 information sessions about the law for over 2,000 people, including civilians, members of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization and the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam and government security forces.
  
  

• The ICRC continued working to enhance the ability of the Sri Lanka Red Cross to maintain family links and spread awareness of the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Sri Lanka Red Cross successfully operated a night ambulance service in Jaffna and Vavuniya with ICRC support. In July, the ambulances transferred over 110 patients to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.