VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0637/01 1751017
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241017Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0146
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7006
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 3891
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3141
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 8768
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1756
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3609
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1248
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52//
RHMFIUU/CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000637 
 
SENSITIVE 
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 AND POL SBERRY 
USMISSION GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
USUN FOR ECOSOC DMERCADO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NORTH BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN 
 
REF:  A) Colombo 623 B) Colombo 621 C) Colombo 577 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: From June 17 to 18, Charge, with the USAID's 
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) regional 
advisor and information officer, traveled to Vavuniya District in 
northern Sri Lanka.  They met with local Government of Sri Lanka 
(GSL) authorities and U.N. and non-governmental organization (NGO) 
partners, and visited USAID/OFDA-funded health, shelter, and water, 
sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs implemented at the Manik 
Farm camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).  The majority of 
the programs are funded through the USAID/OFDA-supported umbrella 
grant with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).  The 
team observed that access to enter Manik Farm has improved.  Access 
to freely interact and interview IDPS, however, remains restricted. 
Release of vulnerable IDPs from camps is moving forward, but the 
process has been slow.  Freedom of movement continues to be a major 
issue.  Lack of transparency with screening and registration 
procedures remains a concern.  The GSL has not yet disclosed a 
timeframe and strategic framework that outlines how the IDP return 
process will occur.  Administration of camp management remains under 
the control of the Competent Authority (CA).  The U.S. Government 
(USG) continues to support health and WASH emergency interventions 
at Manik Farm.  End Summary. 
 
Access Improves, Serious Restrictions Remain 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On June 17, Charge and USAID/OFDA staff met with U.N. 
representatives to discuss the current humanitarian situation at the 
Manik Farm IDP camp in Vavuniya District and challenges facing U.N. 
staff in conducting their emergency interventions.  Office of the 
U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) staff reported that 
vehicle and personnel access to Manik Farm has improved in recent 
weeks.  Several procedures, including issuance of ID cards to local 
NGO staff and lists of U.N. and international NGO staff pre-cleared 
to enter Manik Farm, are in place.  However, some organizations 
continue to face delays to enter Manik Farm and have to negotiate 
individual entries on an ad-hoc basis with zonal commanders. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) noted that there are two 
types of access.  The first type is entry to Manik Farm and the 
second one is access to IDPs.  Without access to IDPs, humanitarian 
agencies cannot collect critical protection data.  UNHCR also raised 
serious concerns over the inability to interview and interact freely 
with IDPs in order to understand their issues and provide adequate 
assistance and reliable reporting.  (Note: UNHCR is allowed to 
conduct household surveys and interview IDPs at transit sites only. 
End Note.)  UNHCR protection activities, though, are ongoing but 
UNHCR staff noted that they are difficult to do in this context 
without calling attention to their purpose.  NGO implementing 
partners explained that if the purpose of the visit to Manik Farm is 
to carry out protection activities and/or end-use monitoring, 
implementing partners often bring a few relief emergency supplies in 
their vehicles to give the impression that they are distributing 
commodities instead, thus gaining access. 
 
Freedom of Movement and IDP Releases 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian 
Affairs (OCHA) reported that as of June 11, the GSL had released an 
estimated 3,000 people - including people over 60, people with 
learning disabilities, and other vulnerable groups - from IDP camps 
to host families and elders' welfare centers.  In a meeting with 
Vavuniya Government Agent (GA) Mrs. P.S.M. Charles clarified that a 
total of 8,000 people have been allowed to leave, but approximately 
5,000 IDPs were waiting for their relatives.  UNHCR noted, however, 
that the process is moving forward very slowly.  UNHCR stated that 
one of the main issues is that the GSL is not clearly communicating 
to IDPs the process for releasing these groups.  According to UNHCR, 
every rule seems to have an exception such as people over 60 kept in 
the camp if they appear healthy. 
 
Lack of Transparency with Registration 
-------------------------------------- 
¶5.  (SBU) U.N. representatives informed Charge and USAID/OFDA staff 
that it is unclear how IDP registration and screening procedures are 
being conducted by the GSL and how long the process will take.  The 
GSL Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services and the 
Presidential Secretariat plan to complete IDP registration before ID 
cards are issued. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The U.N. knows of three GSL agencies registering IDPs -- 
the Vavuniya GA, the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief 
Services, and the Presidential Secretariat.  The U.N. also assumes 
that GSL military intelligence - reportedly wearing plain clothes at 
Manik Farm to remain indiscernible from IDPs - is conducting 
registration of IDPs.  The U.N. does not have access to and is 
prohibited from participating in the registration and screening 
procedures. 
 
Uncertain Future; De-mining and Returns 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) As the humanitarian situation at the IDP camps gradually 
improves, post is actively engaged with the GSL on its plans for 
returning IDPs to areas of origin.  It is uncertain how long the GSL 
plans to keep IDPs at Manik Farm and when and how swiftly returns 
will occur.  The GSL has indicated that it plans to return the bulk 
of IDPs who moved from the former safe zone to GSL-controlled 
territory in 180 days. (Ref B)  However, the GSL has not yet 
disclosed a timetable and strategy for the 180-day IDP return plan. 
It is unknown what the plan will entail and when it will be 
launched.  In a June 18 meeting with the Charge and USAID/OFDA 
staff, the Vavuniya GA noted that the progress and completion of 
de-mining activities will determine the rate of IDP returns.  U.N. 
and NGO partners have advocated, however, that de-mining should not 
be treated as the only viable criteria for the release of IDPs.  For 
example, upon the Charge's question to a group of IDPs at Manik Farm 
as to whether they had relatives or friends to go to in the event 
they were released before de-mining was completed, all IDPs 
demonstratively said they did. 
 
Transition from Military to Civilian Authority 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The Vavuniya GA reported that, despite a GSL announcement 
three weeks ago of the transfer of responsibilities for camp 
management in Manik Farm and transit sites in and around Vavuniya 
District from Competent Authority Major General Chandrasiri to her, 
the CA remains in full control as administrator of Manik Farm. (Ref 
A)  In addition, there is little coordination between the CA and the 
GA.  The GA also mentioned that only she is allowed to enter Manik 
Farm; her staff is not permitted to visit the camp.  However, the GA 
and her district government staff have a hand in many of the 
activities being planned and implemented at Manik Farm.  Electrical 
power lines are running through the zones, a public address system 
is in place, learning spaces have been created and are being used, 
and a water distribution network is being built by the district 
Water Supply and Drainage Board.  In addition, mobile bakeries, 
banks, shops that sell non-food items, meat, and fish are available 
in all zones.  The GA also stated that the district Road Development 
Department plans to address drainage issues in zones 0, 1, 3, 4, and 
¶5.  The U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) plans to address 
drainage issues in Zone 2.  The GA is also implementing vocational 
training for IDPs and plans to set aside low-lying areas of Manik 
Farm for cultivation. 
 
Unaccompanied Children and Orphans 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The Charge and USAID/OFDA staff visited one of three 
temporary orphanages established in Zone 4 of Manik Farm.  The 
temporary orphanage receives support from the GSL, UNICEF, and 
international NGOs such as Save the Children.  Local GSL staff 
reported that the GSL plans to transfer the children to an existing 
orphanage in Vavuniya District on or about June 25.  The GSL plans 
to transfer an additional group of children in other zones to 
Vavuniya.  According to the GA, approximately 1,000 children are 
residing in temporary orphanages, including 400 orphans and 600 
unaccompanied children.  (Note: Some of the children were not 
orphaned during the last stages of the conflict between GSL and LTTE 
forces.  Some orphans who were displaced during the last phase of 
the conflict were transferred from an orphanage in Kilinochchi.  End 
Note.)  The GA plans to release as many children as possible from 
the orphanage to family and friends.  The children who have no place 
to go will continue to receive support at orphanages in Vavuniya. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
USG Responds to Health and WASH Needs 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (U) In response to the pressing health needs at Manik Farm IDP 
camp site, the GSL Ministry of Health (MOH) plans to establish 21 
primary health centers to provide services to the IDP population. 
The USG, through USAID/OFDA, contributed nearly USD 881,000 to the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM) to establish 10 of 
the 21 planned primary health centers in Manik Farm, as well as 
provide three ambulances. (Ref C)  The assistance, which is 
supporting nearly 50 percent of the planned primary health centers, 
is benefiting an estimated 100,000 IDPs.  Of the 10 planned primary 
health centers, IOM has established four in Zone 2, two of four are 
up and running in Zone 4, and two are planned for Zone 5.  The 
clinics-equipped with two pharmacies and staffed with MOH doctors 
and nurses-are providing diagnosis, emergency care, health 
education, and referrals to regional hospitals. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) In addition, USAID/OFDA provided emergency health 
supplies to and is supporting two referral hospitals in zones 2 and 
4 implemented by NGO Medical Teams International (MTI) through UMCOR 
umbrella grants totaling more than USD 278,000.  The two referral 
hospitals receive a total of up to 3,000 IDP patients per day. 
(Note: MTI reported that at the peak of the emergency - the first 
two weeks following the end of the conflict - the referral hospital 
in Zone 2 received an estimated 15,000 people.  MTI also informed 
the USAID/OFDA staff that during this period between 30 to 40 IDPs 
died per day at Manik Farm from dehydration and other conditions. 
End Note.) 
 
¶12.  (U) To help improve the WASH sector at IDP camps, including 
Manik Farm, USAID/OFDA has provided nearly USD 1 million through the 
UMCOR umbrella grant.  The contribution is supporting the provision 
of WASH facilities such as latrines, bathing areas, and water 
systems; construction and rehabilitation of WASH structures; hygiene 
education materials and programs; and cleaning supplies through 
implementing partners Sewalanka, Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB), 
Relief International, World Concern, CARE, Agency for Technical 
Cooperation and Development (ACTED), People in Need (PIN), and IOM. 
USAID/OFDA is also supporting UNICEF through the 2009 Common 
Humanitarian Appeal (CHAP) to support WASH projects in IDP camp 
sites in northern Sri Lanka, including Manik Farm.  Activities 
include the provision of drinking water and hygiene and sanitation 
education services to IDPs. (Ref C) 
 
¶13.  (SBU) COMMENT: The GSL, U.N., and NGOs have made extraordinary 
efforts to establish Manik Farm within a short period of time. 
While Manik Farm is not yet up to international humanitarian 
"Sphere" standards, humanitarian conditions, as well as  access, 
have improved in recent weeks.  Despite these efforts, great 
challenges remain to meet the basic needs of all IDPs and create an 
infrastructure sufficient to withstand the monsoon season which is 
expected to begin in October.  We will continue to press the 
government to accelerate the pace of releases of IDPs to host 
families. 
 
MOORE