(U) HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SRI LANKA

S E C R E T STATE 047313 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2034 TAGS: PINR PGOV PHUM PTER SMIG SOCI CE SUBJECT: (U) HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SRI LANKA (C-NE9-00842) Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE CONCERNED BY THE TREATMENT OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) BY THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT AND WHAT PLANS THE GOVERNMENT HAS FOR DEALING WITH THEM. AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, ANALYSTS WOULD WELCOME ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS FROM POST REGARDING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. ¶A. (U) TRANSIT CAMPS AND WELFARE VILLAGES 1) (S) PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE LOCATION, SIZE AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF TRANSIT CAMPS AND WELFARE VILLAGES. HOW MUCH LAND HAS BEEN PROCURED FOR WELFARE VILLAGES? WHAT LIMITATIONS FOR FURTHER PROCUREMENT OF LAND HAS THE GOVERNMENT ENCOUNTERED? DESCRIBE PROGRESS ON CLEARING THE LAND AND BUILDING STRUCTURES. 2) (S) IDENTIFY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING EACH OF THE TRANSIT CAMPS AND WELFARE VILLAGES. DESCRIBE THE OPERATIONAL ROLES PLAYED BY THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT, OTHER MILITIA ORGANIZATIONS (EPDP, TMVP ETC) AND, IF APPLICABLE, UNHCR, ICRC, UNICEF OR OTHER NGOS. 3) (S) IF APPLICABLE, WHAT DISEASES ARE SPREADING AMONG THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) AND AT WHICH SITES? DESCRIBE HOW MEDICAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. ARE PAIN-KILLERS AVAILABLE? 4) (S) DESCRIBE THE SECURITY MEASURES AT THE TRANSIT SITES AND WELFARE VILLAGES. WHO IS PROVIDING SECURITY AND WHAT ARE THEIR NUMBERS? DESCRIBE THE PROCESS FOR SCREENING IDPS. 5) (S/NF) PROVIDE INFORMATION ON LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM (LTTE) RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES INSIDE TRANSIT SITES AND WELFARE VILLAGES. WHAT OTHER TAMIL GROUPS OPERATE IN THE TRANSIT SITES AND WELFARE VILLAGES? ¶B. (U) ASSISTANCE TO IDPS 1) (S) WHAT ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES HAS THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA PROVIDED TO IDPS? WHO IN THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMANITARIAN PLANNING? WHAT INDICATIONS ARE THERE THAT IDPS ARE SATISFIED/UNSATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES? DESCRIBE THE IDPS' ACCESS TO COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES. ARE THERE WAYS FOR FAMILIES TO BE RE-UNITED? DESCRIBE ANY FACILITIES, IF AVAILABLE, FOR NURSING MOTHERS AND INFANTS. 2) (S) WHAT ASSISTANCE HAVE NGOS PROVIDED TO IDPS? SPECIFICALLY, HOW INVOLVED ARE NGOS IN ASSISTING IDPS IN VAVUNIYA, JAFFNA AND MANNAR? WHAT RESTRICTIONS, IF ANY, HAS THE GOVERNMENT PLACED ON THE ACCESS OR ACTIVITIES OF NGOS? ¶C. (U) FUTURE GOVERNMENT PLANS 1) (S) DESCRIBE GOVERNMENT PLANS FOR TRANSITIONING IDPS FROM WELFARE VILLAGES TO PERMANENT HOMES. WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPECTED TIMELINE FOR KEEPING IDPS IN THE WELFARE VILLAGES? DESCRIBE ANY SIMILARITIES TO POST-TSUNAMI ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. HOW SIGNIFICANT OF A PROBLEM ARE MINES? 2) (S) DESCRIBE GOVERNMENT PLANS FOR REBUILDING AND DEVELOPING THE NORTH AND THE EAST WHEN THE CONFLICT IS OVER. HOW DO THE PLANS DIFFER BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE EAST? IDENTIFY THE KEY DECISION-MAKERS ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THESE PLANS. IF POSSIBLE, IDENTIFY THE ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONS THE PLANNERS ARE MEETING TO GAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED. ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-NE9-00842 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON