Right to Health of Internally Displaced Persons - IDP SriLanka

The lack of coordination between the MOH and local authorities when
erecting toilets, the failure of local authorities in garbage disposal and in
supplying equipments and tools to control communicable diseases have
also collectively caused the living standards of IDPs to be fallen down. In
Puttalam, there is no proper drainage system in welfare centers and
relocation centers and they also lack proper water supply. Another
burning issue affecting health conditions of IDPs is the lack of proper
mechanism for garbage collection. Urban Council of Puttalam possesses
only 6 tractors for garbage collection and the less number of staff for this
purpose has caused the situation worse.
Safe disposal of excreta
• Ensure adequate sanitary facilities at all temporary camps for the displaced.
Where necessary, make arrangements to construct adequate number of
temporary latrines according to the guidelines.
Disposal of refuse
• Co-ordinate disposal of garbage by sanitary burial or burning in suitable
adjacent areas of temporary shelters.
• Control flies, insects and rodents by proper use of physical and chemical
methods (insecticides and TCL powder).
• If garbage is removed daily by the local authorities using tractors, ensure
enough barrels (garbage bins) are available in the temporary shelters for
collection of garbage.
“Provisional guidelines for emergency management of public health problems of the IDPs” issued by the
Epidemiological Unit of Ministry of Healthcare & Nutrition for Batticaloa Health Staff - Section 3 & 4 -
SeeAnnexureVI
Disease Prevalence
It is palpable that the disease prevalence is comparatively high in the
aftermath of a disaster. Especially soon after a disaster the IDPs live in
community wise and therefore the incidence of viral infections,
diarrhoeal diseases are easy to outbreak among the community. In
Arthiviravar camp where there were over 1,400 people, there were only 8
toilets available and a high incidence of diarrhea was reported in this
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camp . However it was revealed things have been changed after the
resettlement and in present they only have about 300 members and
authorities were able to manage the situation. Trincomalee also it is
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Centre for Policy Alternatives, INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre, Law
and Society Trust, Women and Media Collective, Report of the Fact-Finding Visit to
Batticaloa and Vakarai,April 2007, p.3
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