ADRA India

SRI LANKAN REFUGEES IN TAMIL NADU

Project: Goat Bank Pilot for Sri Lankan Refugees Location: Tamil Nadu Start: 1st August 2007 Finish: Undetermined Donors: ADRA Norway Budget: $ 16,002 USD
Beneficiaries: 80 families, 2 Refugee Camps Objectives: Creating mechanisms for the development and support of sustainable income generation through women in Sri Lankan refugee camps, improving capacity of communities to manage their own development; and identifying bankable model for the Sri Lankan refugees in camps. Activities: Formation and strengthening of livelihood committees, distribution of goats among beneficiaries, providing care and support to the beneficiaries for goat management and identifying a bankable model of goal rearing for Sri Lankan refugees in camps. Expected Outcomes: Two livelihood committees exist and are trained in livestock management (goat) and eighty families received goats, INR 200 has been collected by the livelihood committee from each beneficiary @ INR 100/goat, a common identified place is being treated for fodder development with the support of the beneficiaries. Aluminum mesh fencing was provided in order to protect the fodders from other animals. A volunteer is being appointed by the livelihood committee in order to take care of the fodder development initiatives in the camps with the financial support from the livelihood committee account. Beneficiaries and livelihood committees have built rapport with the local veterinary doctors. Doctors come to the camps to treat the goats whenever it's required. First aid kit is available in each camp with the prescription of local veterinary doctor. Individual goat health card are available with the beneficiaries to keep a track of the details of treatment given to the goats.

Project: Pro–Rep–Shel with SLR (Protection, Repatriation Preparedness and Shelter Improvement with Sri Lankan Refugees living in Tamil Nadu Camps and Returnee Assistance in Sri Lanka. Location: India: 72 Sri Lankan Refugee Camps located in 20 districts in Tamil Nadu State in India. The districts are Dharmapuri, Vellore, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thiruvallur, Tiruvanamalai, Erode, Selam, Dindigal, Trichy,
Pudhukottai, Perambaluur, Karur and Tiruppur, Sivagangai, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, and Thirunelvelli Sri Lanka: Four districts in Sri Lanka. The districts are Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. Duration: October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010 Donor: European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) through ADRA Germany Budget: € 570,275 Status: Ongoing Beneficiaries: 52,879 refugees (14,240 families) in Tamil Nadu and 100 families in Sri Lanka. Principle Objective of the Project: To provide humanitarian assistance to Sri Lankan Refugees based in camps in Tamil Nadu and to assist the returnees to Sri Lanka. Specific Objective (SO): To improve the humanitarian situation of Sri Lankan Refugees based in camps in Tamil Nadu through multi-sector assistance such as shelter, water and sanitation, protection activities and returnee support. Indicators for SO 80% of the women and children are trained in protection related issues. 90% of the target refugee families have increased access to improved water and hygienic sanitation facilities. 90% of the target refugee families from the selected camps for drainage construction have increased access to improved waste management. 85% of target refugee families report adopting practices and attitudes that promote personal hygiene, safe domestic water usage, and safe disposal of wastes. 100% of target refugee families who live in the community halls and unsafe buildings have improved shelters. 60% target refugees are informed and prepared towards voluntary return. 90% individual refugee families are aware of the situation about their place of return to make their choice. SECTOR: PROTECTION Expected Result (ER) 1: 72 targeted coordinated management committees and the concerned local authorities from the target camps have improved capacity in protection, water and sanitation, and waste management. Indicators for ER 1 The Existing Water, Environment and Sanitation (WES) Committees (68) are converted as sub task forces of the camp management committee. 72 task forces are formed and capacitated on water, environment, sanitation, shelter, and protection in the targeted camps. At least two government officers in district and state level are sensitized on protection and repatriation issues. All selected 72 camp level volunteers are trained on protection and repatriation issues. Expected Result 2: At least 13,000 refugee children, 4,770 adolescent girls and 14,700 women are trained on various protection related issues thereby ensuring protection against sexual and gender based violence and other forms of violence. Indicators for ER 2 72 Master Trainers (MTs) are selected and trained on protection issues. 13,000 children, 4,770 adolescent girls, 14,700 women are given capacity building on protection issues. At least 500 alcoholic persons are referred and enrolled in de addiction interventions. SECTOR: WATSAN Expected Result 3: At least 14,240 target refugee families have increased access to improved water and hygienic sanitation facilities in the target refugee camps. Indicators for ER 3 100 new latrines are constructed and 133 existing latrines are repaired. 25 community bathing sheds and 30 community bins are constructed. 11 bore wells are drilled, 11 motor pumps and 20 storage tanks are fixed and 2 hand pumps are established. Environmental hygiene and awareness programs are conducted in 72 camps. SECTOR: SHELTER Expected Result 4: At least 200 target refugee families who live in the regulated market committee buildings/common buildings have improved shelter and living conditions in at least 3 target refugee camps. Indicators for ER 4 200 semi permanent houses in 3 camps are improved or newly constructed. 3 shelter task forces are formed and trained. SECTOR: REPATRIATION Expected Result 5: At least 31,000 refugees are provided with information for making decision freely for their voluntary return with assured safety and dignity. Indicators for ER 5 72 camps are covered through posters, leaflets. Verbal presentations and mass information campaigns are organized in 72 camps quarterly. Detailed profiles are prepared for 8,544 (60%) of the targeted refugee families who are willing to repatriate and shared with ADRA Sri Lanka. Expected Result 6: Mapping and returnee monitoring in four potential returnee districts in Sri Lanka are done in coordination with ADRA Sri Lanka. Indicators for ER 6 The districts potential to have returnees are mapped and assessed and 3 Site Reports are circulated from ADRA Sri Lanka to ADRA India about the situation in Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalle and Batticaloa 100 cases of individual profiles of returnees are monitored and assisted with at least 50 shelters, 5 sanitation blocks, 5 bore wells and livelihood assistance for 50 families. Sector wise project achievement so for (September 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010) Sector Protection Capacity Building: Based on the felt need of the refugees, it was found that protection, repatriation, and returnee assistance need to be intervened. Hence, the project has its current focus on protection related issues. Thus, Legal, Life skill and Protection (LLP) training modules for women, adolescent girls and children are developed. Each module deals with various issues arising in the personal life, family and community and helps the camp people to handle these issues in an appropriate way. The module intends to train the community in handling the practical problems for better living standard and for that a new component of developing and working with Master Trainers (MTs) are being initiated to take up the tasks of organizing and building the community capacity on protection, addressing the WATSAN and shelter needs. Till today, 127 MTs have been trained and others are being trained to address the protection related issues and help in solving issues in the camps. The MTs are being trained in LLP for women, adolescent girls and children. Each module is for two days; so all together six days training is being given to the MTs. The MTs are expected to serve as trainers to build the capacity of the refugees. Till today, 662 children, 364 adolescent girls and 60 women have been trained on protection issues through. Referral Directory: The refugees require lot of services like infrastructure, education, health and other community services to lead a normal life. The services and assistance they enjoy is very minimal however, they need lot of services for their better living. Moreover not all services can be found in one common place as they are scattered at different levels in each district and there is no much information about the available services. Hence, the project is making a referral directory to help support the refugees in getting information about the available services in the districts. The referral directory will be available within the camp with the responsibility given to the Camp Leader/Task Force. The directory can be used by all the people like women, children, youth, men, adolescents & elders in the camp. De-addiction: Based on the needs assessment done, it was found that alcoholism is one of the major issues which need intervention. Alcoholism has also led to other serious problems like domestic violence, debts, poverty and suicide. Hence, ADRA has proposed to support de-addiction program to help 500 refugees in co-ordination with the government and de-addiction centers. Visualizing the needs, the project intends to collaborate with the de-addiction agencies to conduct intervention closer to the refugee camps at district level. In this context ADRA has initiated the search for identifying experienced and competent de-addiction agencies to play a major role in enabling family and group therapy for better results and as a follow-up to form support groups. Sector WATSAN A need assessment was done in all the camps to identify the repair works and follow up for maintenance of existing infrastructures such as plumbing, mud filling, garbage removal etc. Camp flow rate analysis and water testing for many camps were completed and intervention plans with estimates were prepared and obtained government permission. Till today 40 latrines have been constructed while 73 have been repaired. Eleven bathing sheds, 12 community bins and one drainage facility have been constructed. Also 6 bore wells and one hand pump have been installed and 13 storage tanks are provided to the targeted camp communities. More than 11,439 people have been covered under the environmental hygiene and awareness program. Sector: Shelter The project plans to improve and or construct 200 semi permanent houses in selected refugee camps. Till date, nothing concrete has been done as project is waiting government approval. However, recently government has suggested ADRA India to take Ambalavananpettai Refugee Camp in Cuddalore District for repairing and doing extension work for 170 shelters. The government has suggested the project to modify the plan of construction a bit and submit the same for approval. Once it is approved; repair and extension work of respective targeted shelters will be started. Sector Repatriation As the government of Tamil Nadu is still not in a position of considering repatriation as a durable solution for the refugees, taking a strong position that still about thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are not resettled in Sri Lanka. Hence the government is not encouraging ADRA India to start any activities on repatriation. However on the other hand the refugees are much seen to be enthused to have the option of repatriation open. So the need for support on repatriation is evidently increasing as UNHCR receives 100 refugee applications for support every month. However, to have a balanced plan without conflicting with the government and refugees need, ADRA India is preparing a data base of profiling the refugees who are willing to return to Sri Lanka. If a refugee beneficiary returns to Sri Lanka; ADRA India will share his profile with ADRA Sri Lanka so that ADRA Sri Lanka can support the returnees. Linkage and Coordination ADRA India is implementing this project in close coordination with the concerned district level authorities under the direction of the Department of Rehabilitation Office in Chennai. Any technical constrains faced by the project team in the field is being consulted with the local authorities. If the problem is not solved; state authority is being consulted for intervention. Specifically ADRA India is presently exploring a close coordination with Danish Refugee Council (DRC) so that the training components on legal assistance could be conducted and implemented in the camps of Tamil Nadu. As well ADRA India implements the project in close coordination with ADRA Germany, ECHO regional Office in New Delhi and the Office in Colombo. “Helping when needed most” This project is funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) through ADRA Germany. For more information about ECHO; please log on to http://ec.europa.eu/echo. For more information about ADRA Germany please log on to http://adra.de Disclaimer: “This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Commission. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Commission.”

This project is funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) through ADRA Germany. For more information about ECHO; please log on to http://ec.europa.eu/echo. For more information about ADRA Germany please log on to http://adra.de Disclaimer: “This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Commission. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Commission.”