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Sri Lanka: World Vision continues increased relief response
26 Apr 2009
By World Vision staff
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World Vision is helping in camps like this one.
Photo by Asanga Warnakulasuriya.
©2009 World Vision International |
World Vision on Friday continued its stepped up relief response to support the needs of the steadily increasing numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs) arriving in Vavuniya.
World Vision distributed 5,000 packets of cooked food to newly arrived displaced families in the biggest IDP campsite, Manik Farm Zone 3. All IDPs are provided with cooked food for the first week of their stay in the camps and thereafter they receive their food from the communal kitchens set up in the camps.
With over 100,000 IDPs arriving in Vavuniya District since the mass exodus started on Monday, the government and NGOs are dealing with an unprecedented humanitarian response.
As an immediate measure, the authorities have decided to accommodate around 5000 newly arrived IDPs in the adjacent camp, Manik Farm Zone 2 as the camp in Zone 3 is currently close to maximum capacity with 29,000 people. Steps have also been taken to return 30,000 IDP back home to Mannar.
World Vision ramped up the emergency response to meet the demanding needs of the camps with two truck loads of food and non food items leaving World Vision’s warehouse daily. This includes 5,000 packets of cooked food and essential non food items.
World Vision continues to supply over 100,000 litres of water to three camps and plans to deploy additional water tanks to meet the increased demand.
Additionally, breast feeding tents have now been set up in every campsite across the Vavuniya district to provide a private space for nursing mothers. A daily supplementary feeding programme is reaching 500 children and 80 pregnant and lactating mothers.
World Vision is setting up Child Friendly Spaces and Temporary Learning Spaces with activities for hundreds of war affected children including play therapy for traumatized children. Initial estimates indicate that around 30% of the IDPs are children.
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