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IOM's
tsunami relief operations |
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The
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has quickly
responded to requests for assistance from the Government of
Sri Lanka to provide emergency relief assistance to the
tsunami affected.
This assistance has included the provision of emergency
shelter, drinking water, food, medicine and water
purification/pump equipment. IOM has also responded to a
request by the Government of Sri Lanka to assist in the
management of logistics and transportation of relief
supplies arriving at Colombo International Airport.
Over the past week, IOM truck convoys have been departing
daily from Colombo delivering equipment, supplies, and
personnel from a number of donors to points across the
country. The demand for ongoing IOM support in this area is
growing and IOM is now moving to further increase the size
of its transport fleet.
The requested project funding will allow IOM to strengthen
and expand its existing activities in three key areas: * the
provision of emergency and temporary shelter to affected
communities in selected districts; * the registration of
displaced persons to ensure appropriate victim assistance
response in these districts; and * logistical and
transport assistance to support the effective delivery of
aid throughout the country. Since opening its Colombo office
in 2001, IOM has provided shelter, livelihood and
reintegration assistance to displaced persons and returned
refugees in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.
Through its field offices, IOM has helped construct shelters
for many hundreds of families in what are now affected areas
from the tsunami. IOM's immediate goal is to provide
temporary shelter to families who lost their homes. |
           
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Priority will be given to the following extremely vulnerable
individuals in selecting beneficiaries: * single-parent and
child-headed households; * injured, elderly or disabled
persons; * families with more than two children. IOM will
implement emergency assistance for a total of 20,000
beneficiary families in the Ampara, Batticaloa, Matara and
Trincomalee districts.
Building on existing relationships with the Government and
the LTTE, IOM has already commenced a limited registration
programme for displaced persons in selected areas of Ampara,
Batticaloa, Matara and Trincomalee. Requested project
funding will allow for a more robust registration process to
commence to provide for more informed assessments on the
impact on communities from the tsunami and the individual
needs of displaced persons.
This information will be vital for a range of government,
international and non-government agencies in identifying
support and development requirements and prioritising the
needs of the communities affected by the tsunami.
For
information please contact: Mary Sheehan, Chief of Mission,
IOM Sri Lanka on 0777-701402, Email: msheehan@slnet.lk |
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