Sri Lanka

Funding appeals and humanitarian action updates

The humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka is deteriorating, and perpetuating armed conflict has brought the death toll to over 4,000 since August 2006. Clashes move closer to the capital city Colombo, and more people get involved, while humanitarian access is hindered. The situation for women and children remains precarious. Though the general health situation of internally displaced persons is satisfactory, maternal death rates increased due to curfews and untimely referrals and public health standards might erode slowly. Also the restricted access to and lowered quality of education for children cause grave violations of children’s right to education. Abduction and recruitment of children by belligerents continue. The most acute humanitarian needs include those of water and sanitation in camps of internally displaced persons, and the protection of children from forced recruitment and other child rights violations. UNICEF requires US$ 5,997,852 to address the urgent needs of children in the areas of health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and protection.
Sri Lanka Donor Update 24 Jun 2007 [pdf]

The unresolved conflict and the dangerously fragile ceasefire agreement between the Government and Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continue to gravely impact the lives of children and women in Sri Lanka and are the most important factors hampering rapid and sustainable development of the economy. With violence between the government and the LTTE at its highest level since 2002, the security situation is deteriorating especially in the North and East. Since August 2006, over 200,000 persons have been displaced (including multiple displacements from Trincomalee to Vaharai and in January 2007, to Batticaloa government-controlled areas). Some 600,000 people remain cut-off in Jaffna district. Conflict and displacement present particular threats for children, such as separation from their families, recruitment by fighting forces and exposure to targeted and indiscriminate violence like claymore attacks and landmines/UXOs. In IDP locations, abduction and recruitment of children have been reported by families and humanitarian agencies. UNICEF urgently requires US$2,561,200 to meet the immediate needs of children and women in emergency health, nutrition, education, WASH, child protection and non-food related items.
Sri Lanka Donor Update 7 Mar 2007 [pdf]

The escalating conflict and open warfare in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka is resulting in grave humanitarian consequences, and humanitarian access to assist the civlian population in vulnerable areas has continued to be greatly impeded. Food and other items are in extreme shortage, sanitation and hygiene related interventions continue to be required in IDP concentration points and the imminent monsoon requires rapid action as many of the IDP sites provide inadequate shelter and are prone to flooding. The current focus of UNICEF action is on IDPs and host communitites in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, where over 200,000 have fled their homes since April 2006. Together with partners, UNICEF is working to assure the availability of immediate humanitarian support in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene, education, health and nutrition, child protection and non-food items.
Sri Lanka donor update 28 November 2006