Batticaloa refugee crisis
 |
IDPs in the Kokkovil camp in Batticaloa.
|
The Batticaloa office of Sewalanka, manages the Sathurukondan IDP camp and two IDP camps in Kokkuvil housing over 3000 people and in partnership with the UNDP, WHO and other local and international humanitarian agencies, Sewalanka staff ensure that the people have enough food, water and clothing.
Sewalanka also provides counseling and medical support services to care for the physical and psychological needs of the IDPs and provides education and livelihood training to allow them to build a secure future after their displacement.
“We try to think beyond simply meeting their day-to-day needs and work to provide IDPs with the skills and confidence to build new lives when they are finally able to leave these camps,” said the manager of the Kokilai camp, Mr Jude Sinathamby. IDPs in the three camps managed by Sewalanka come primarily from the Muttur and Sampur areas which saw heavy fighting last year. While these areas have since stabilised and some IDPs have been allowed to return to their homes, certain villages have been declared high security zones while others have not been cleared of mines, making a return home for these villagers impossible.
While conditions in the camps remain extremely difficult, Sewalanka has provided furniture and utensils to make life in the shelters as comfortable as possible. Small schools have been constructed to meet both the educational and social needs of children while social centers with games and televisions have been provided for adults in the community.
“What these people need is a sense of normalcy and stability. Their lives have been completely disrupted, so we try to provide them with community focal points, activities and where possible employment to restore their sense of purpose and build cohesion in the community,” said Leshimi Thansingham, a Sewalanka volunteer at the Selanai camp.
Although conditions in the camps have improved, land allocated to refugees is temporary and is often donated by Government institutions. When this land is again required, the IDPs are often transferred to alternative camps in neighboring districts. IDPs in the Batticaloa camps now face the prospect of being relocated to the Trincomalee district.
This continual displacement is the cause of much hardship: “We would rather stay here, we are used to it now,” said Yasodha Lathadevi a young woman at the Kokuvil camp who, having lost her home and husband in the fighting, has spent over a year as an IDP.
The issue of resettlement for groups whose villages have been declared high security zones remains difficult but it is hoped that through dialogue between the Government, IDPs and NGOs this problem will be resolved as soon as possible. The security situation however is such that no firm date can be given for the communities return.
Until such time as they are able to return home, Sewalanka will continue to support these IDPs and help them live as normal a life as possible in such difficult circumstances.
Despite the difficulties faced by some groups many communities have been allowed to return to their villages and Sewalanka has been assisting them in their resettlement, helping them in their efforts to begin new lives in their old homes.
In Vaharai approximately 3000 people have returned to their homes. Sewalanka has been conducting livelihood training to help these people build successful businesses and sustainable livelihoods. Staff at Sewalanka have also been working with CBOs to provide small loans to individuals and families looking to enhance their incomes.
Over recent times, the Vaharai community has faced extraordinary difficulties and much hardship. Having lived through years of war they were able to rebuild during the 2000 – 2005 ceasefire but then found their lives destroyed by the tsunami. Following the tsunami the people again rebuilt as best they could but in 2006 they were once again displaced by renewed fighting. “Again and again we must rebuild,” said Shar Priyalalitha a farmer’s wife currently living in a temporary shelter in her own garden. Her house remains uninhabitable as a result of shelling.
Even with all of this suffering, the people have not given in to a sense of desperation and remain determined to rebuild their lives.
With funding from DanChurchAid (DCA) and the Norweigan Embasy, Vaharai’s farmers are currently working with Sewalanka to diversify their crops, while the fisherman are receiving new boat engines and a wider range of nets with which to catch different varieties of fish. CBOs have been provided with large grants and given the task of overseeing construction and infrastructure work, supervising the building of roads and dams. These tasks provide them with responsibility and experience in conducting large scale projects for the improvement of their community.
Further the CBOs are using the funds they receive to supply small loans to recipients expressing an interest in a range of enterprise development projects from ice cream making, and gathering wild honey, to opening communications centers and shops.
When asked about their resettlement, members of the community said they where overwhelmed with happiness when informed they could return home but also said they still feared a resumption of violence.
However as one elderly fisherman stated: “We can’t think about that, we have to work and build now as if we are going to be here forever.”
As far as it is able, Sewalanka will assist these people to build a self-reliant, sustainable community that will endure for generations.
