While the rains continue in sporadic bursts over Vavuniya, the people living in welfare camps in the area are facing food and water shortages, while sanitary conditions are getting worse by the day, local aid workers said.
Humanitarian workers on the ground are concerned about the impact of the monsoon rains on internally displaced persons (IDPs) housed in refugee camps, warning that if conditions did not improve the IDPs could become restive, or even violent.
The UN and other humanitarian agencies say there are gaps in their capacity to respond to situations that could arise with the oncoming monsoon rains. They are reviewing their emergency plans and capacity to respond effectively to such situations.
So far no steps have been taken to move those living in the worst affected areas out of the camps. Instead, they are being relocated within the camps. The IDPs who were compelled to seek shelter in temporary schools have returned to their tents. Unfortunately, the floors and the walls are still soaked from the rains.
Meanwhile, IDPs in zones that had switched from communal cooking to individual cooking are unable to cook because of the muddy conditions, and are surviving on biscuits and water provided by humanitarian organisations.
The Humanitarian Agencies Cluster is still in the process of drawing up plans to meet the IDPs’ food requirements when the monsoon sets in and weather conditions become much worse.
Water bowsers and gully suckers are unable to reach the camp sites because of the bad road conditions and the danger of vehicles getting stuck in mud.
Some 850 persons in zones 1, 2 and 3 are seriously inconvenienced by limited toilet facilities. Meanwhile, sewage from overflowing latrines is causing further problems. The impact of the rains on the other zones has not yet been assessed.
According to government officials, steps are being taken to repair damaged roads, and drains are being dug at some of the campsites. However, UN agencies fear they may not be able to complete the work before the monsoon rains arrive in September.
The Sunday Times has made several attempts to contact UN spokesman Gordon Weiss, but with no success. |
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