Re-declaration of Disaster for the Complex Emergency in Sri

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001117 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INSB, DRL/NESCA 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: Re-declaration of Disaster for the Complex Emergency in Sri Lanka ¶1. (U) Background: Continued civil strife in the North of Sri Lanka has displaced upwards of hundreds of thousand people from their homes creating a complex emergency for the region. A disaster was initially declared in August of 2006 when almost 50,000 people had been displaced. In 2007 and 2008 the disaster was re-declared due to increased fighting and to the rapid increase in the numbers displaced in October 2008. ¶2. (U) On May 19, 2009, the Government of Sri Lanka declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (or Tamil Tigers). Over 230,000 people fled the areas of conflict during the final months of the battle, joining the 65,000 IDPs who had previously fled. Insecure conditions in the return areas due to land mines and property destruction have slowed the return of these people to their place of origin. However, since the beginning of November there has been a marked increase in the rate of returnees. People are arriving home with little and the area has been ravaged by fighting over many years. The emergency continues to be beyond the capacity of the GSL to respond, the GSL is willing to accept assistance, and it is in the interest of the U.S. government to support the return of these people to their points of origin. ¶3. (U) On December 4, 2009, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Valerie Fowler re-declared a disaster in Sri Lanka due to the ongoing complex emergency and needs surrounding the return of the internally displaced people. ¶4. (U) USAID/OFDA's primary focus in Sri Lanka is shifting from basic humanitarian aid in camps to addressing the needs of the people returning to their homes through activities aimed at health, water, sanitation, and livelihood. Additional resources for addressing the needs of this returning population may be requested upon further assessment by the Mission and OFDA's regional office. Fowler