Colombo, 22 March 2007 - Norwegian Refugee Council has scaled up its relief operations in Batticaloa district to assist tens of thousands of civilians who have been displaced over the past months by fighting between the Sri Lankan security forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Since last December, more than 35,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Batticaloa district were assisted by NRC in cooperation with the local government authorities, through a wide range of humanitarian interventions—emergency shelter, food, water/sanitation, basic non-food relief items, legal assistance and protection monitoring.

Continual distributions over the last few months saw staple foods as well as a variety of non-food items, provided to over 15,000 people, arrived with only little more than the clothes on their backs.

In Batticaloa, the organization is delivering emergency shelters to around 4,500 families and is providing support to the local government officials in managing IDP sites through camp management training programme.

Over 2,000 emergency shelters are being erected in Savakudy, Kalavenkerny and Palameenmadu camps in Chenkalady DS division while 1,060 tents were set up in several camps located in the district. In addition, NRC provided or repaired water and sanitation systems in several camps.

In the wake of a humanitarian crisis with thousands of displaced people on the move, the government as well as agencies are keen for the displaced to rely on local webs of support and networking. However, host families also need support to cope with sudden burdens. Therefore, NRC provides shelter and water/sanitation facilities for displaced families, hosted by residents in the district. Nearly 1,400 emergency shelter kits, consisting of construction material such as cadjan (woven palm branches) and timber are being provided for them. All construction activities are being carried out through mobilised IDP labour, on cash for work basis, under the supervision of NRC technical officers.

The agency's mobile monitoring teams gather and disseminate information on legal protection issues such as domestic violence, child rights, compensation and benefit entitlements, missing persons, lack of civil documentation etc. to relevant coordinating mechanisms. In such cases NRC either offers legal counselling, undertaking civil action through the Courts, or make a case referral to a relevant actor.

More than 155,000 civilians are now estimated to be displaced in the district. Norwegian Refugee Council with the support from ECHO and UNHCR will continue to support the IDPs after they make their own decision to return to their homes. - Ends