Kilinochchi District

 

 

Affected Divisional Secretary Divisions 

 

(1)   Karachchi,

(2)   Kandawalai,

(3)   Poonakari,

(4)   Pachchilaipalli

 

Affected People

 

 

Damages to Different Sectors

 

Sector

Nature of the Damage

Estimated Cost

 (Rs. mn)

Housing

2,427 houses damaged

456.75

Fisheries

852 boats, 596 Out Board Motor boats and a large number of nets damaged

316.8

Education

01 school damaged

65.0

Health

 

7.0

Road

861 Km damaged

759.4

Electricity

02 villages affected

325.4

Water Supply

01 scheme damaged

410.2

Tourism

 

150

Agriculture

 

163.5

Administration (Public Institutions)

04 institutions damaged.

40.0

Community and Township Development

 

612.3

Total

3306.35

 

 

 

 

Actions Taken

 

Confronted Problems and Issues

 

Challenges Ahead

 

Way Forward

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

KILINOCHCHI DISTRICT

 

 

Background

The Tsunami of 26 Dec. 2004 brought severe damaged destruction in Kilinochchi, one of the worst affected 03 district in the Northern Province.  Through the number of deaths is comparatively less in this district, the damage caused to the houses and infrastructure has been substantial.  This has placed additional burden and strain on the impoverished population of the district which had been suffering from the destruction and damage  caused by the protracted ethnic conflict for more than two decades.  In addition to the affected people of this district there was an influx of affected people from adjoining districts of Jaffna and Mullaitivu district.  26,310 people from other districts were staying in Welfare Centres and friends and relatives.  At present most of them were relocated in Maruthankerni area.  Action is being taken to relocate 250 families in Kallaru.  175 families were relocated in temporary transit camp in Kallaru and others will be relocated after temporary transit camp construction is over.  Initially, we were maintained 22 Welfare centres and all those Welfare Centres have been closed.

 

The Kilinochchi district Administration along with the LTTE and TRO formed an Emergency Task Force and attend to the needs of the Tsunami victims such as evacuation, arranging welfare centres, cooked meals, in a large scale deploying all resources in the district to their maximum.

 

This crash programme organized by the special task force has evacuated the victims with least possible delay, win the confidence of the people, the Government and International community at large.

 

The twenty years experience with the sufferings, frequent displacements and loss of life that accompanied by arms conflict is very much less to that of the suffering caused by Tsunami Tidal waves on the spur of the moment.  We can never fully restore what the Tsunami has taken but we can extend our helping hand to the survivors, do whatever is possible at least to reduce their suffering and rebuild the nation for the future, which involves relief for immediate needs and plans for reconstruction.  We can reconstruct and rehabilitate all that sea has taken, except life.  Most of the people affected by Tsunami are the poorest of the poor.

 

District profile – Kilinochchi

 

Location and area 

Kilinochchi district is situated in the Northern part of the Island.  It covers a land area of approximately 1237 sq.k.m.  The average density of population is 124 per sq.km.

 

Boundaries

Northern               -  Jaffna district

Eastern and Southern     -  Mullaitivu district

Western and southern     -  Mannar district.

 

 

 

 

Administrative setup

The district is divided in to 4 Administrative divisions, consisting of 95 G.S. divisions and comprising 324 villages

 

                                      No. of G.S. Divisions                No. of Villages

          Karaichchi                      42                                   90

          Kandawalai                    16                                   98

          Poonakari                       19                                   93

          Pachchilaipalli                         18                                   43

          Total                               95                                   324

 

Population

The total estimated population inclusive of those displaced and accommodated in this district amount to 141.834.

 

The table below presents the details.

 

D.S. Division                            No. of                    No. of

                                      Families                Members

 

  Karachchi                     18,746                   73,159

  Kandawalai                    8,253                   33,231

  PoonKari                        5,998                   25,352

  Pachchilaipalli                2,663                   10,092

                                      35,660                       141,834            

Economic activities

Agriculture is the major occupation of more than 80% of the population.  Fisheries are the second largest occupation.  There are 30 fishing villages dotted along a coast line of 91 k.m. covering the ocean in the Western coast and the sea in the Eastern Coast and the lagoon in the middle part separating the mainland from the peninsula region.

 

The extent of damage

The district has a coastal area of 91 k.m. in length consisting of three belts.  However traditionally our district fishermen are fishing in Chundikulam area of costal belt adjoining Jaffna and Mullaitivu  coast.

 

Ocean in the Western side                  -        30 k.m.

Sea in the Eastern side              -        08 k.m.

Area bordering the Jaffna lagoon       -        53 k.m.

                                                          91 k.m

 

Since the Tsunami tidal waves destruction was severe in the Eastern coast compared to that of the Western Coastal belt and lagoon area deaths and destruction have been comparatively less in the district as the district has only an 8 k.m. long coast line along the eastern side.  However prior to Tsunami disaster there were about 3580 families who had lost their houses and property due to the ethnic conflict which had caused severe hardships to the population of the coastal area.

 

 

The housing problems in the coastal areas of the district at present could be discerned from the date presented below:

 

 

Karachchi

Kandawalai

Poonakari

Pachchilaipalli

Total

1.   Houses damaged due to ethnic conflict (in the coastal belt)

 

Nil

 

673

 

2101

 

806

 

3580

2. Houses damaged due to Tsunami

*42

15

  49

182

 288

 

 

688

2150

988

3868

  * Resided in Poonagary division for fishing purposes.

 

It could be seen that efforts made by the fishing population of the district to restart their lives after the cessation of hostilities in 2002 were nullified by Tsunami disaster and the people have been rendered homeless and displaced once again.

 

The Tsunami has also aggravated the housing problem due to two factors.

1.     Influx of displaced fishing families into Kilinochchi after Tsunami.

2.     The need for relocation of people who had their dwellings within the 300 meters buffer zone.

 

The table below presents the details of relocation.

 

Karaichchi

Kandawalai

Poonakari

Pachchilaipalli

Total

Displaced families who have come into the district and want to be relocated in the district

 

 

 

 62

 

 

 

212

 

 

 

49

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

357

To be relocated due to 300  meter buffer zone

 

*42

 

338

 

942

 

148

 

1470

Total No. of families to be relocated

 

104

 

550

 

991

 

182

 

1827

 

 

Lands have been identified in 16 different villages spread throughout the district for relocation of 1827 families. The details are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pradeshiya Sabha Division

D.S. Division

No. of Villages Identified

No. to be Relocated

Karachchi 

1.  Karachchi

2.  Kandawalai

01

03

104

550

Sub Total

 

04

654

Poonakary

1. Poonkary

09

997

Pachchilaipalli

1. Pachchilaipalli

03

176

Grand Total

 

16

1827

 

 

 

Challenges, experiences and future development direction

 

The cry and mental depression encountered post Tsunami voice reveals the following at the welfare centres and in the homes of friends and relatives.  They are not fully recovered from their psychological fear.

 

Children

·        Fear of the Sea

·        Fear of water

·        Fear of their future education as they have lost all their books etc.

·        Fear of sound

 

Parents, Men and Women

·        No sleep – They said that they still hear the harrowing wail of the Tsunami when the lie to sleep.

·        Claiming body pain and sick – Claiming to sick and looking sick but there is nothing physically wrong with them.  They are in a state of mental depression.

 

Scenes

The victims recall the scenes they have experienced and they narrate all what they have seen during Tsunami to all visitors to ease their worries.

 

·        Pathetic scene of swallowing the victims and rescuers by the sea.

·        The fate of victims who went to their residence to retrieve their belongings and get caught to tidal wave and died.

·        Untimely death of the beloved ones.

·        Loss of breadwinners.

 

Present status

The attitude of the Tsunami victims differs for and against relocations beyond buffer zone.

 

For

·        Many are embittered and shocked by how the sea they worshiped as god turned on them.  They have fled their homes, vowing never to return.  They do not want to see the sea again never in their life.

·        They said that they still hear the harrowing wail of the Tsunami when they lie to sleep.  They have had enough of the sea and they want to move away from the beach.

 

Against

·        Some say that there is some fear in their minds but that is what they have done for generations.  They want their boats to be repaired and replaced by the Government for them to re commence their livelihood.

·        Some say Tsunami recur only in every 500 years so they do not want to leave their ancestors, land and move out their traditional home.

 

Emergency relief

This was success and effective with the support of the Local people, Local Organizations, International Community and INGOO.

 

Maintaining welfare centres and temporary transit camps

These activities were very challenging especially in water sanitation and waste management even though we received some assistance form all communities, still lacking without proper equipment lack of management skill and lack of awareness among communities.   Tents and temporary shelter not acceptable to the community.  Uncertain future due to the abnormal rain drainage around the transit camp is the challenge and it has to be upgraded.  Which could be overcame by raising the floor level or by providing drainage system.

 

·        Allocation of land outside the buffer zone edge is challenging.

·        Opinion differs on policies

·        Some are accepting and some are not accepting.

·        The activities of debris clearing and access road make passable lacking behind for want of sufficient funds and heavy machineries.  A lot of debris available in Lagoon.  This is disturbing the fishing activities and birds sanctuary.  Damaged roads are not yet made passable.  A lot of sand is available in roads.

 

Permanent resettlement

Uncertainty prevails among the Tsunami victims regarding their life and their traditional occupation.

 

Conflict situation between war victims and tsunami victims

Due to the 20 years ethnic conflict more than 27,000 families are displaced and lost their houses and income base completely and suffering for survival.  However we are providing comparatively more assistance to Tsunami victims to that of war victims in the same village.  Tsunami victims’ coverage is 100% but war victims have fewer opportunities.  These create dissatisfaction between the communities.

 

Infrastructure development in costal area

There is no immediate possibility to undertake these activities.  The emergency assistance required.

 

Income generating activities

The affected fishermen requesting for assistance for fishing equipment and net.  There is no proper plan for replacement of lost equipment.

 

Challenges ahead

Democratic participation in Planning and Implementation of Reconstruction activities such as

·        Justification in economic planning.

·        Peace building in planning and implementing.

·        Counseling the victims and confidence building

·        Reconstruction of Infrastructure damaged and destroyed in the coastal belt due to Tsunami and arms conflict has to be taken up simultaneously to maintain equity and justice.

·        Submission of  extracts required by TAFREN Guideline is not possible immediately due to defunct of civil administration for the last 20 years.

·        Consensus of buffer zone to be reached with interested parties.

·        Relocation of houses falling within the buffer zone to out side the buffer zone.  Most of the victims prefer to be relocated in their own land beyond the buffer zone in place of state land allocated by the state.

·        Preparation of damage survey in respect of victims from the adjoining districts as they are practically living in the welfare centres in our district and prefer relocation in Kilinochchi District.

·        Alternative to the use of Timber and rubble to be identified.

·        Shortage of skilled masons and carpenters.

 

Future development objectives

·        To organize a community based representation body, with capacity to take decisions regarding their housing and infrastructure requirements.  Ensure women participation and empowerment of people.

·        To enable the community to rebuild essential physical facilities including shelter.  To help create wage employment from the investment on shelter and infrastructure.

·        To promote peoples participation in the construction and imparting self-reliance.

 

The vision for post Tsunami reconstruction and reconciliation committed to

·        Democratic Participation in Planning and Implementation of Reconstruction activities such as

-         Participation of the people to the maximum

-         Decision making to be from bottom to up-ward direction.

-         Transparency and accountability in all activities.

-         Doers shall be the local community based organization with the active participation of beneficiaries.

 

·        Justification in economic planning

The economic ravages of war such as damages to jetty, roads, fishing equipments and crafts and other related accessories to be regained to embark on economic planning.

 

·        Peace building in planning and implementing

Many of the areas affected by Tsunami were those that had suffered utmost violence over last two decades by the fighting in the North and East although normalcy had been restored to a certain extent in the cleared are of North East the civil society in the un-cleared area had been crushed by hyper militarization and a culture of fear remained.  Initiative has to be taken to ensure free movement of citizen and restored civic trust.

 

·        Counseling the victims and confidence building

-         The victims of arms conflict and Tsunami to be treated alike and simultaneous assistance are provided to both parties impartially.

-         Counseling the victims to get rid of their psychological fear as they are in depressed state/Psychological counseling has to be given by specialist who can speak the language of the affected victims to have the expected effect.  The confidence building and counseling should go in hand in hand to make the rehabilitation reconstruction programme a success.

A special policy decisions has to be taken in respect of Kilinochchi which is an un-cleared area to assist the victims of arms conflict and Tsunami simultaneously to maintain justification to all effected people.

 

·        All infrastructure facilities of fishing industry are damaged and destroyed due to arms conflict as well as tsunami to be rehabilitated and reconstructed for the tsunami affected victims and war victims to restart their livelihood.  Building materials fishing Crafts equipments and other related accessories have to be brought from south to Kilinochchi through two check points which is time consuming as well as cost increasing. A special provision has to be made to meet the additional transportation cost.

 

·        As there was no development took place for the last two decades and only skeleton civil administration was functioning with skeleton staff resulting disruption of land work, revision of electoral register, electricity and telecommunication.  Resulting difficulties in submitting extract of the voters list and land title as stated in the TAFREN guideline.

A special decision has to be taken to accept letter issued by the Divisional Secretary on the recommendation of the village rehabilitation committee and the relevant Grama Niladhari.

Accept the land regularization made by the land task force appointed by the North East Provincial council under NEHRP programme for this as well.

 

 

Relocation

·        The buffer zone determined by the Government is 100 meter away from the shore whereas the Local authority determines buffer zone as 300 meters away from shore.

Families living within the buffer zone in Kilinochchi costal belt have to be relocated beyond the buffer zone.  Most of the people do possess their own land outside buffer zone and requested to grant housing assistance to relocate them in their lands outside buffer zone.

Others may be relocated in the state land identified by the Divisional Secretary in consultations with the victims.

 

The idea of moving the houses away from the coast has proved to be failure as very often they rent out the homes they were given and go back to beach.

A special decision has to be made to permit relocation in their own land beyond buffer zone instead state land for those owning land outside buffer zone.

 

·        Most of the victims from the adjoining districts are reluctant to get back to their places of origin for psychological fear of Tsunami.  They express their willingness to be relocated at Kallaru as Chundikulam Sea is closer to this site which will facilitate to recommend their traditional occupation.  These families are living in the Kallaru Welfare Centre in a semi permanent shelter.  Action has already been initiated to relocate them permanently with the government assistance of Rs.450,000/- per house.  This work will commence before April 2005 and will be completed before 31.07.2005.

The problem encountered is the preparations of damage survey as the original residence of these victims come under the purview of adjoining district which could be overcome by accepting a letter from the relevant Divisional Secretary confirming the damage.

 

·        Building material such as Timber, and rubble are very acute in Kilinochchi and we have to found alternatively for the use of these materials for reconstruction of 23,000 houses damaged and destroyed during arms conflict and tsunami.

New technology introduced by National engineering research and development centre is being demonstrated in this district and the acceptance of the beneficiaries are awaited to implement the new technology which is cost saving durable and time saving.  New entrepreneurs are identified and they are in the process of under taking the pre-casting of building materials with the new technology introduced by NERD.

 

Damages

-         Affected People : 14350

-         Total Number of Deaths and Missing – Nil

-         Number of Persons in IDP Camps at the initial stages : 49413

-         Number of families who were in IDP Camps at the initial stage: 10636

 

Damages to Different Socio Economic Sectors

Sector

Damages

 

 

 

(Nos)

Relocation beyond buffer zone

 

(Nos)

Total

 

 

 

(Nos)

Estimated Cost of Reconstruction (Rs.Mn.)

Total

(Mn.)

Damage

Relocation beyond buffer zone

Housing

288

1539

2427

72

384.75

456.75

Fishing

Boats-852

Out boat

Motor-596 &

Nets-17020

-

 

316.84

-

 

316.84

Education

 

01

01

65

 

65

Health

01

 

 

07

 

07

Roads

-

861 km

 

 

759.37

759.37

Electricity

 

02 villages

 

 

325.37

325.37

Water Supply

01

01

02

 

410.2

410.2

Tourism

 

 

 

 

150

150

Post & Telecommunication

-

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

SWE-Bunds(50km)

 

 

163.5

163.5

Administration (Govt. Institution)

 

04

04

 

40.0

40.0

Irrigation

-

 

 

 

 

 

Others

 

i)Community  Development

(ii) Township

    Development

 

 

 

247

 

365.35

 

247.0

 

365.35

Total

 

 

 

518.442

2787.94

3306.205

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

KILINOCHCHI DISTRICT

 

 

Background

The Tsunami of 26 Dec. 2004 brought severe damaged destruction in Kilinochchi, one of the worst affected 03 district in the Northern Province.  Through the number of deaths is comparatively less in this district, the damage caused to the houses and infrastructure has been substantial.  This has placed additional burden and strain on the impoverished population of the district which had been suffering from the destruction and damage  caused by the protracted ethnic conflict for more than two decades.  In addition to the affected people of this district there was an influx of affected people from adjoining districts of Jaffna and Mullaitivu district.  26,310 people from other districts were staying in Welfare Centres and friends and relatives.  At present most of them were relocated in Maruthankerni area.  Action is being taken to relocate 250 families in Kallaru.  175 families were relocated in temporary transit camp in Kallaru and others will be relocated after temporary transit camp construction is over.  Initially, we were maintained 22 Welfare centres and all those Welfare Centres have been closed.

 

The Kilinochchi district Administration along with the LTTE and TRO formed an Emergency Task Force and attend to the needs of the Tsunami victims such as evacuation, arranging welfare centres, cooked meals, in a large scale deploying all resources in the district to their maximum.

 

This crash programme organized by the special task force has evacuated the victims with least possible delay, win the confidence of the people, the Government and International community at large.

 

The twenty years experience with the sufferings, frequent displacements and loss of life that accompanied by arms conflict is very much less to that of the suffering caused by Tsunami Tidal waves on the spur of the moment.  We can never fully restore what the Tsunami has taken but we can extend our helping hand to the survivors, do whatever is possible at least to reduce their suffering and rebuild the nation for the future, which involves relief for immediate needs and plans for reconstruction.  We can reconstruct and rehabilitate all that sea has taken, except life.  Most of the people affected by Tsunami are the poorest of the poor.

 

District profile – Kilinochchi

 

Location and area  

Kilinochchi district is situated in the Northern part of the Island.  It covers a land area of approximately 1237 sq.k.m.  The average density of population is 124 per sq.km.

 

Boundaries

Northern               -  Jaffna district

Eastern and Southern     -  Mullaitivu district

Western and southern    -  Mannar district.

 

 

 

 

Administrative setup

The district is divided in to 4 Administrative divisions, consisting of 95 G.S. divisions and comprising 324 villages

 

                                      No. of G.S. Divisions                No. of Villages

          Karaichchi                     42                                   90

          Kandawalai                    16                                   98

          Poonakari                      19                                   93

          Pachchilaipalli                         18                                   43

          Total                              95                                   324

 

Population

The total estimated population inclusive of those displaced and accommodated in this district amount to 141.834.

 

The table below presents the details.

 

D.S. Division                            No. of                             No. of

                                      Families                 Members

 

  Karachchi                    18,746                   73,159

  Kandawalai                    8,253                   33,231

  PoonKari                       5,998                   25,352

  Pachchilaipalli               2,663                   10,092

                                      35,660                       141,834            

Economic activities

Agriculture is the major occupation of more than 80% of the population.  Fisheries are the second largest occupation.  There are 30 fishing villages dotted along a coast line of 91 k.m. covering the ocean in the Western coast and the sea in the Eastern Coast and the lagoon in the middle part separating the mainland from the peninsula region.

 

The extent of damage

The district has a coastal area of 91 k.m. in length consisting of three belts.  However traditionally our district fishermen are fishing in Chundikulam area of costal belt adjoining Jaffna and Mullaitivu  coast.

 

Ocean in the Western side                 -        30 k.m.

Sea in the Eastern side             -        08 k.m.

Area bordering the Jaffna lagoon      -        53 k.m.

                                                          91 k.m

 

Since the Tsunami tidal waves destruction was severe in the Eastern coast compared to that of the Western Coastal belt and lagoon area deaths and destruction have been comparatively less in the district as the district has only an 8 k.m. long coast line along the eastern side.  However prior to Tsunami disaster there were about 3580 families who had lost their houses and property due to the ethnic conflict which had caused severe hardships to the population of the coastal area.

 

 

The housing problems in the coastal areas of the district at present could be discerned from the date presented below:

 

 

Karachchi

Kandawalai

Poonakari

Pachchilaipalli

Total

1.   Houses damaged due to ethnic conflict (in the coastal belt)

 

Nil

 

673

 

2101

 

806

 

3580

2. Houses damaged due to Tsunami

*42

15

  49

182

 288

 

 

688

2150

988

3868

  * Resided in Poonagary division for fishing purposes.

 

It could be seen that efforts made by the fishing population of the district to restart their lives after the cessation of hostilities in 2002 were nullified by Tsunami disaster and the people have been rendered homeless and displaced once again.

 

The Tsunami has also aggravated the housing problem due to two factors.

3.     Influx of displaced fishing families into Kilinochchi after Tsunami.

4.     The need for relocation of people who had their dwellings within the 300 meters buffer zone.

 

The table below presents the details of relocation.

 

Karaichchi

Kandawalai

Poonakari

Pachchilaipalli

Total

Displaced families who have come into the district and want to be relocated in the district

 

 

 

 62

 

 

 

212

 

 

 

49

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

357

To be relocated due to 300  meter buffer zone

 

*42

 

338

 

942

 

148

 

1470

Total No. of families to be relocated

 

104

 

550

 

991

 

182

 

1827

 

 

Lands have been identified in 16 different villages spread throughout the district for relocation of 1827 families. The details are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pradeshiya Sabha Division

D.S. Division

No. of Villages Identified

No. to be Relocated

Karachchi 

3.  Karachchi

4.  Kandawalai

01

03

104

550

Sub Total

 

04

654

Poonakary

1. Poonkary

09

997

Pachchilaipalli

1. Pachchilaipalli

03

176

Grand Total

 

16

1827

 

 

 

Challenges, experiences and future development direction

 

The cry and mental depression encountered post Tsunami voice reveals the following at the welfare centres and in the homes of friends and relatives.  They are not fully recovered from their psychological fear.

 

Children

·        Fear of the Sea

·        Fear of water

·        Fear of their future education as they have lost all their books etc.

·        Fear of sound

 

Parents, Men and Women

·        No sleep – They said that they still hear the harrowing wail of the Tsunami when the lie to sleep.

·        Claiming body pain and sick – Claiming to sick and looking sick but there is nothing physically wrong with them.  They are in a state of mental depression.

 

Scenes

The victims recall the scenes they have experienced and they narrate all what they have seen during Tsunami to all visitors to ease their worries.

 

·        Pathetic scene of swallowing the victims and rescuers by the sea.

·        The fate of victims who went to their residence to retrieve their belongings and get caught to tidal wave and died.

·        Untimely death of the beloved ones.

·        Loss of breadwinners.

 

Present status

The attitude of the Tsunami victims differs for and against relocations beyond buffer zone.

 

For

·        Many are embittered and shocked by how the sea they worshiped as god turned on them.  They have fled their homes, vowing never to return.  They do not want to see the sea again never in their life.

·        They said that they still hear the harrowing wail of the Tsunami when they lie to sleep.  They have had enough of the sea and they want to move away from the beach.

 

Against

·        Some say that there is some fear in their minds but that is what they have done for generations.  They want their boats to be repaired and replaced by the Government for them to re commence their livelihood.

·        Some say Tsunami recur only in every 500 years so they do not want to leave their ancestors, land and move out their traditional home.

 

Emergency relief

This was success and effective with the support of the Local people, Local Organizations, International Community and INGOO.

 

Maintaining welfare centres and temporary transit camps

These activities were very challenging especially in water sanitation and waste management even though we received some assistance form all communities, still lacking without proper equipment lack of management skill and lack of awareness among communities.   Tents and temporary shelter not acceptable to the community.  Uncertain future due to the abnormal rain drainage around the transit camp is the challenge and it has to be upgraded.  Which could be overcame by raising the floor level or by providing drainage system.

 

·        Allocation of land outside the buffer zone edge is challenging.

·        Opinion differs on policies

·        Some are accepting and some are not accepting.

·        The activities of debris clearing and access road make passable lacking behind for want of sufficient funds and heavy machineries.  A lot of debris available in Lagoon.  This is disturbing the fishing activities and birds sanctuary.  Damaged roads are not yet made passable.  A lot of sand is available in roads.

 

Permanent resettlement

Uncertainty prevails among the Tsunami victims regarding their life and their traditional occupation.

 

Conflict situation between war victims and tsunami victims

Due to the 20 years ethnic conflict more than 27,000 families are displaced and lost their houses and income base completely and suffering for survival.  However we are providing comparatively more assistance to Tsunami victims to that of war victims in the same village.  Tsunami victims’ coverage is 100% but war victims have fewer opportunities.  These create dissatisfaction between the communities.

 

Infrastructure development in costal area

There is no immediate possibility to undertake these activities.  The emergency assistance required.

 

Income generating activities

The affected fishermen requesting for assistance for fishing equipment and net.  There is no proper plan for replacement of lost equipment.

 

Challenges ahead

Democratic participation in Planning and Implementation of Reconstruction activities such as

·        Justification in economic planning.

·        Peace building in planning and implementing.

·        Counseling the victims and confidence building

·        Reconstruction of Infrastructure damaged and destroyed in the coastal belt due to Tsunami and arms conflict has to be taken up simultaneously to maintain equity and justice.

·        Submission of  extracts required by TAFREN Guideline is not possible immediately due to defunct of civil administration for the last 20 years.

·        Consensus of buffer zone to be reached with interested parties.

·        Relocation of houses falling within the buffer zone to out side the buffer zone.  Most of the victims prefer to be relocated in their own land beyond the buffer zone in place of state land allocated by the state.

·        Preparation of damage survey in respect of victims from the adjoining districts as they are practically living in the welfare centres in our district and prefer relocation in Kilinochchi District.

·        Alternative to the use of Timber and rubble to be identified.

·        Shortage of skilled masons and carpenters.

 

Future development objectives

·        To organize a community based representation body, with capacity to take decisions regarding their housing and infrastructure requirements.  Ensure women participation and empowerment of people.

·        To enable the community to rebuild essential physical facilities including shelter.  To help create wage employment from the investment on shelter and infrastructure.

·        To promote peoples participation in the construction and imparting self-reliance.

 

The vision for post Tsunami reconstruction and reconciliation committed to

·        Democratic Participation in Planning and Implementation of Reconstruction activities such as

-         Participation of the people to the maximum

-         Decision making to be from bottom to up-ward direction.

-         Transparency and accountability in all activities.

-         Doers shall be the local community based organization with the active participation of beneficiaries.

 

·        Justification in economic planning

The economic ravages of war such as damages to jetty, roads, fishing equipments and crafts and other related accessories to be regained to embark on economic planning.

 

·        Peace building in planning and implementing

Many of the areas affected by Tsunami were those that had suffered utmost violence over last two decades by the fighting in the North and East although normalcy had been restored to a certain extent in the cleared are of North East the civil society in the un-cleared area had been crushed by hyper militarization and a culture of fear remained.  Initiative has to be taken to ensure free movement of citizen and restored civic trust.

 

·        Counseling the victims and confidence building

-         The victims of arms conflict and Tsunami to be treated alike and simultaneous assistance are provided to both parties impartially.

-         Counseling the victims to get rid of their psychological fear as they are in depressed state/Psychological counseling has to be given by specialist who can speak the language of the affected victims to have the expected effect.  The confidence building and counseling should go in hand in hand to make the rehabilitation reconstruction programme a success.

A special policy decisions has to be taken in respect of Kilinochchi which is an un-cleared area to assist the victims of arms conflict and Tsunami simultaneously to maintain justification to all effected people.

 

·        All infrastructure facilities of fishing industry are damaged and destroyed due to arms conflict as well as tsunami to be rehabilitated and reconstructed for the tsunami affected victims and war victims to restart their livelihood.  Building materials fishing Crafts equipments and other related accessories have to be brought from south to Kilinochchi through two check points which is time consuming as well as cost increasing. A special provision has to be made to meet the additional transportation cost.

 

·        As there was no development took place for the last two decades and only skeleton civil administration was functioning with skeleton staff resulting disruption of land work, revision of electoral register, electricity and telecommunication.  Resulting difficulties in submitting extract of the voters list and land title as stated in the TAFREN guideline.

A special decision has to be taken to accept letter issued by the Divisional Secretary on the recommendation of the village rehabilitation committee and the relevant Grama Niladhari.

Accept the land regularization made by the land task force appointed by the North East Provincial council under NEHRP programme for this as well.

 

 

Relocation

·        The buffer zone determined by the Government is 100 meter away from the shore whereas the Local authority determines buffer zone as 300 meters away from shore.

Families living within the buffer zone in Kilinochchi costal belt have to be relocated beyond the buffer zone.  Most of the people do possess their own land outside buffer zone and requested to grant housing assistance to relocate them in their lands outside buffer zone.

Others may be relocated in the state land identified by the Divisional Secretary in consultations with the victims.

 

The idea of moving the houses away from the coast has proved to be failure as very often they rent out the homes they were given and go back to beach.

A special decision has to be made to permit relocation in their own land beyond buffer zone instead state land for those owning land outside buffer zone.

 

·        Most of the victims from the adjoining districts are reluctant to get back to their places of origin for psychological fear of Tsunami.  They express their willingness to be relocated at Kallaru as Chundikulam Sea is closer to this site which will facilitate to recommend their traditional occupation.  These families are living in the Kallaru Welfare Centre in a semi permanent shelter.  Action has already been initiated to relocate them permanently with the government assistance of Rs.450,000/- per house.  This work will commence before April 2005 and will be completed before 31.07.2005.

The problem encountered is the preparations of damage survey as the original residence of these victims come under the purview of adjoining district which could be overcome by accepting a letter from the relevant Divisional Secretary confirming the damage.

 

·        Building material such as Timber, and rubble are very acute in Kilinochchi and we have to found alternatively for the use of these materials for reconstruction of 23,000 houses damaged and destroyed during arms conflict and tsunami.

New technology introduced by National engineering research and development centre is being demonstrated in this district and the acceptance of the beneficiaries are awaited to implement the new technology which is cost saving durable and time saving.  New entrepreneurs are identified and they are in the process of under taking the pre-casting of building materials with the new technology introduced by NERD.

 

Damages

-         Affected People : 14350

-         Total Number of Deaths and Missing – Nil

-         Number of Persons in IDP Camps at the initial stages : 49413

-         Number of families who were in IDP Camps at the initial stage: 10636

 

Damages to Different Socio Economic Sectors

Sector

Damages

 

 

 

(Nos)

Relocation beyond buffer zone

 

(Nos)

Total

 

 

 

(Nos)

Estimated Cost of Reconstruction (Rs.Mn.)

Total

(Mn.)

Damage

Relocation beyond buffer zone

Housing

288

1539

2427

72

384.75

456.75

Fishing

Boats-852

Out boat

Motor-596 &

Nets-17020

-

 

316.84

-

 

316.84

Education

 

01

01

65

 

65

Health

01

 

 

07

 

07

Roads

-

861 km

 

 

759.37

759.37

Electricity

 

02 villages

 

 

325.37

325.37

Water Supply

01

01

02

 

410.2

410.2

Tourism

 

 

 

 

150

150

Post & Telecommunication

-

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

SWE-Bunds(50km)

 

 

163.5

163.5

Administration (Govt. Institution)

 

04

04

 

40.0

40.0

Irrigation

-

 

 

 

 

 

Others

 

i)Community  Development

(ii) Township

    Development

 

 

 

247

 

365.35

 

247.0

 

365.35

Total

 

 

 

518.442

2787.94

3306.205