In the conflict areas of eastern Sri Lanka, hundreds of thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes; many of whom are now living in camps for internally displaced people (IDP). An estimated 127,000 displaced people were reported in the Batticaloa district alone.

The fighting has subsided as government forces regained control of the Vaharai area of Batticaloa. Beginning this month, several thousand internally displaced people are being relocated to Vaharai. Almost 150 families are returning every day, but the presence of mines and other safety/security concerns prohibits many Humanitarian Aid Agencies from operating in Vaharai.

Christian Children's Fund (CCF-Sri Lanka), is the lead UNICEF child protection agency for two divisions in Batticaloa - Eracur Pattu and Manmunai Pattu (Aryampathy). This includes support for local non-governmental organizations in terms of capacity building, nutrition support, provision of basic supplies and ensuring internally displaced children are mainstreamed into local schools. CCF is developing focus group discussions with children in IDP camps - developing overall guidelines for conducting interventions in Child Centered Spaces (CCS) and other child-friendly spaces. CCF is working closely with camp management to monitor the situation of children in IDP camps.

CCF-Sri Lanka is working in nine IDP camps in the Batticaloa District, conducting Child Centered Spaces and setting up Child Well-Being Committees. Through these protection structures, CCF has provided war-affected children with access to non-formal emergency education and child protection activities. Training is provided for local activity leaders. Also, hygiene kits, nutritional items and psycho-social supplies are available for displaced and war-affected children.

CCF staff is holding community discussions in Vaharai where parents and children alike appeared happy to be returning home, but expressed an immediate need for support and assistance including food, clothing and medicine. Fishermen who have lost their means of income require support to replace boats and nets while farmers have requested support and equipment for paddy file cultivation. Requests for rebuilding equipment have also been made. Approximately 75 percent of the wells and toilets sustained damage from the shelling and are not suitable for use. Nearly every house suffered damage as well. People have started to repair their homes, but lack of supplies and money hamper the efforts. The tents provided are often insufficient.

Food shortage is prominent in Vaharai as one loaf of bread must be shared among six children. Young children appear to be underweight and many complain about feeling hungry and tired. Some children have returned to school. But parents describe their children's difficulties in coping with the present situation as well as what occurred in the past, such as shelling, displacement, hunger, abductions and killings.

Christian Children's Fund is distributing basic school equipment - such as uniforms and books - to restart schools. Non-formal education programs have been set up for non-school aged children as well as education and recreational activities for school aged children. These programs are designed to help the children cope with stressful events, prevent abductions and allow them to regain normalcy.

Nutritional food items for preschool aged kids have been given out to help fill the initial food shortage. Basic dry food rations have been delivered for returnees. The basic package is made up of 10 kg rice, 2 kg dhal, 5 kg flour, 3 kg sugar, 1 kg tea leaves, two packets of milk powder and 3 kg chickpeas.

CCF-Sri Lanka has also provided income opportunities in the form of cash for work activities such as cleaning wells, schools and houses. Basic repair kids for the restoration of the houses have been provided. Fishing nets supplied to families with boats have enabled them to regain livelihood. The distribution and supply of water tanks for schools and communities provided both access and a supply of safe drinking water.

CCF has been successful in transitioning the ongoing Child Centered Spaces (CCS) and Child Well-Being Committee (CWBC) activities to respond to the needs of internally displaced children. The CWBCs monitor the increasing number of child protection issues that have surfaced, organizing a community response.

Recently, CCF-Sri Lanka established 10 Child Centered Spaces in IDP camps in Trincomalee. More than 6,360 children were reached through CCF's emergency program. Four CCSs were established for returnees to Muthur and Kinniya, reaching more than 900 children. High-energy biscuits are being distributed to 4,000 displaced children daily through Child Centered Spaces. Clothing, footwear and mosquito nets were distributed among 4,720 displaced children.

CCF has successfully implemented post-emerency livelihood, water/sanitation, rehabilitation and hygiene promotion in cooperation with various donors including USAID, UNICEF, Irish Aid and other ChildFund members.