P 181223Z FEB 09 
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9397 
AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
INFO NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC 
CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52// 
CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000174 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PRM 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA 
AID/W FOR DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, JBORNS 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR ACONVERY, RTHAYER AND RKERR 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA WBERGER 
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA MROGERS 
USMISSION GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
USMISSION USUN/ECOSOC FOR DMERCADO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PGOV PHUM PREF CE
SUBJECT: Sri Lanka Humanitarian Update, 02/18/09 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. The U.N. reports 30,000 internally displaced people from Sri 
Lanka's northern Vanni Region are receiving humanitarian assistance 
at 17 locations in the Vavuniya District. International 
organizations report they are responding to the food and non- food 
emergency needs of the displaced and that access for international 
organizations to assist the displaced has improved. The U.N. lead 
Cluster approach for the coordination of humanitarian activity is 
operational. There is little humanitarian information with respect 
to an estimated 100,000-250,000 people trapped by conflict in the 
Mullaitivu Region. The U.N. will officially launch a humanitarian 
appeal for $155 million this week to assist with the emergency needs 
of 450,000 Sri Lankans. USAID and Office of Foreign Disaster 
Assistance (OFDA) personnel are cooperating closely to monitor 
humanitarian conditions in Sri Lanka's northern region. End Summary. 
 
Background 
-------------- 
 
¶2. The recent surge in fighting between the Government of Sri Lanka 
(GSL) and LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in Sri Lanka's 
northern Vanni Region could potentially cause the displacement of 
100,000-250,000 people. Those affected and displaced, mostly ethnic 
Tamils, are transported by the GSL military to Ministry of 
Resettlement-managed transit centers in Vavuniya District. Limited 
access for the international humanitarian community to the Vanni 
Region has reduced the potential role of the international community 
in response efforts. 
 
¶3. In support of humanitarian preparedness and response efforts, 
the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) programmed $6 
million in Fiscal Years 2008-2009 in non-food support to the U.N. 
and international NGOs. The Office of Food for Peace programmed 
$32.7 million in 2008 to support food activities through the World 
Food Program. 
 
Displacement 
---------------- 
 
¶4. The U.N. Office of Humanitarian Coordination (OCHA) reports that 
approximately 30,000 people displaced from the Vanni Region fighting 
now reside in 17 locations close to the district capital in 
Vavuniya. The locations are generally school grounds and under the 
control of the Sri Lankan military. The U.N. Humanitarian 
Coordinator reports that the humanitarian conditions of the 
displaced that have come out of the Vanni are generally good, and 
people are receiving food and non-food support from both GSL and 
international organizations. The U.N. also reports that the number 
of displaced is trending higher with new arrivals daily. 
 
¶5. Several international NGOs, including CARE, World Vision and CRS 
report increased access to the displaced in the Vavuniya camps. The 
INGOs are supporting the affected with non-food items, and increased 
access to water and sanitation. The GSL had prevented INGO access 
to the displaced as recently as 10 days ago. Several believe the 
policy change resulted due to the recent increase in arrivals that 
likely caught the GSL unprepared to cope with humanitarian demands. 
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that non- food 
support for 150,000 is pre-positioned in country and the World Food 
Program is prepositioning a two-month supply of food in Vavuniya for 
200,000. 
 
Humanitarian Coordination 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶6. The "cluster system" to coordinate international response 
efforts is in place, largely led by the United Nations. The U.N. 
and INGOs report regular meetings in Vavuniya and Colombo to 
coordinate activities in the food, WASH, shelter, protection and 
security sectors. Donors including the European Commission for 
Humanitarian Affairs, USAID, Canada and several other European 
nations meet regularly to share information. 
 
Mullaitivu Region 
---------------- 
 
¶7. The GSL has restricted humanitarian access for the U.N. and 
INGOs to the conflict's epicenter, the Mullaitivu Region. The 
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has evacuated 
approximately 1,200 war wounded from the region to the hospital in 
Trincomalee. The U.N. estimates that 100,000 - 250,000 civilians 
are caught in the fighting and will eventually need some level of 
humanitarian support. The ICRC reports increased cases of dysentery, 
and that populations lack food, water and medical care. 
 
U.N. Appeal 
--------------- 
 
¶8. UN OCHA will launch the CHAP (Consolidated Humanitarian Appeal) 
on February 18, requesting $155 million in food and non- food 
emergency assistance for those affected by conflict in the Vanni 
region. OFDA Regional Advisor has reviewed the appeal and believes 
the planning figure of 450,000 displaced may be high, and far from 
the GSL estimates of approximately 100,000. UNOCHA Chief in Sri 
Lanka reported to OFDA that the 450,000 target population comes from 
2004 operational figures and that accurate census data do not exist. 
 
Conclusions 
------------ 
 
¶9. Displaced totals in Sri Lanka's Vavuniya District currently 
stand at 30,000. However, the U.N. reports new arrivals daily and 
the trend is increasing. The GSL and Sri Lankan military 
increasingly are granting access to the displaced populations to the 
U.N. and INGOs. The UN reports that it currently has the capacity 
to support 150,000 displaced with food and non-food items. 
 
¶10. Humanitarian coordination of activities through the "Cluster" 
mechanism is functioning, however, its efficacy will be tested as 
greater numbers of displaced arrive in Vavuniya. 
 
¶11. There is little humanitarian information on conditions of 
populations in the epicenter of fighting in the Mullaitivu Region. 
The ICRC reports a lack of food, water and medical assistance 
throughout the region. The ICRC has evacuated approximately 1,200 
war wounded and dependents from the conflict zone to the public 
hospital in Trincomalee. The U.N and GSL sources estimate between 
100,000 and 250,000 residents in the Vanni region may require some 
level of humanitarian assistance. 
 
¶12. USAID and OFDA are planning several field assessments and will 
continue to monitor and report on humanitarian conditions in 
northern Sri Lanka. 
 
BLAKE