VZCZCXRO1979
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0110 0430726
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120726Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1299
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2419
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 9441
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 7696
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3857
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0002
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 7236
RHHMUNS/COMSOCPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0139
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000110 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/SA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL CE PTER PHUM EAID PREF
SUBJECT: Northern Province Health Infrastructure Assessment 
 
¶1. SUMMARY.  During the week of January 18-22, the embassy's 
Civil-Military Support Element (CMSE), together with Sri Lankan 
Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition (MOH) officials and Medical 
Teams International (a primarily U.S. Government-funded 
non-governmental organization), planned and conducted a 
comprehensive assessment of the health infrastructure in the 
Northern Province.  This assessment, which was funded by the U.S. 
Pacific Command through the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and 
Civic Aid (OHDACA) program, also included representatives from 
USAID, Northern Province Directors of Health Services, the World 
Health Organization, and a diverse group of engineers and 
specialists.  The team visited every site identified by the Sri 
Lankan government as a priority area for IDP resettlement.  The 
assessment culminated with a visit to medical facilities in 
Mullaitivu town, within a mile from the infamous "No Fire Zone" - 
site of the most brutal fighting at the end of the war.  This marked 
the first visit by a foreign delegation to this area.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
FINDINGS 
-------- 
 
¶2. The visited facilities had a wide range of problems, from 
mine-affected sites where team members needed to remain on cleared 
paths to large, intact buildings with no electricity or water 
infrastructure in place.  The team identified a number of 
immediate-need, minimal cost projects such as roofs for temporary 
classroom facilities and funding for medical equipment.  Larger 
scale assistance will include brand-new construction of hospital 
wards and school buildings.  All of the sites were already 
struggling to manage returning populations, and projected totals of 
returnees are expected to more than double the current returnee 
populations. 
 
SRI LANKAN ARMY COOPERATION 
--------------------------- 
 
¶3. The assessment team was greeted warmly at the sites by Sri Lankan 
Army representatives, including Division and Brigade Commanders. 
Army officials were extremely supportive of the assessment and eager 
for any available assistance.  Army soldiers are helping to rebuild 
communities (the team saw them working at a school) and assisting 
with resettlement.  In one village, soldiers constructed 400 homes 
for returning families and the Division Commander arranged for 
doctors to visit the area to provide treatment when needed. 
Recognizing that their efforts can only go so far, the commanders 
pledged their full support for any humanitarian assistance projects 
in the near future, to include ground transportation and meals for 
assessment teams during site visits. 
 
NEXT STEPS FOR MOH 
------------------ 
 
¶4. MOH officials and engineers are working on designs, maps and 
other products to support the systematic rebuilding of the health 
infrastructure of the Northern Province.  The MOH will use the 
database and reports from this assessment to frame funding requests 
and other proposals to the international community for assistance 
with Sri Lanka's resettlement efforts. 
 
FOWLER