Relief to Batticaloa

Relief Project for Displaced Refugees
Alliance Development Trust initiated a relief project in the Batticaloa District for the people who have been displaced from Vaharai, which is in the LTTE controlled area, due to the recent escalation of violence. Relief assistance was provided to 360 families who have sought refuge in local churches in Valachchenai.

Escalation of Violence
Vaharai is situated in the north of the Batticaloa District on the southern border of the Trincomalee District.  With the escalation of violence, over 40,000 people from the north of Trincomalee have fled to Vaharai to seek refuge during the last two months.  Subsequently, with the recent incidents, the people living in Vaharai were also forced to leave their villages and many of them are now seeking refuge in the Valachchenai area.

The Human Rights Watchdog has called on the Sri Lankan Government to investigate the attack on civilians in Vaharai.  In a recent incident, an IDP camp in the Vaharai area was attacked, leaving over 60 people dead and over 100 injured.

Critical Needs
According to our Regional Office, relief agencies have been refused permission to transport food items beyond military check posts. Officials confirm that over 43,000 civilians in Vaharai, including civilians who have been displaced from the Trincomalee District and residents from Vaharai, are facing severe food shortages.

It is estimated that 36 metric tons of food are required per month for the people in the LTTE controlled areas of Batticaloa, but only 16 metric tons are being sent to these areas through the government agencies. With the onset of monsoon rains there is the additional possibility of these refugees and civilians being affected by infectious diseases like viral fever, which will have a drastic impact in such crowded conditions.