Right to Health of Internally Displaced Persons - IDP SriLanka

are not receiving dry ration since government has taken a decision to not
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provide dry ration for new IDPs . However no evidence of proof was
found to establish such government decision. Differential treatments
between IDPs were also evidenced in this regard since there is no well
planed machinery or scheme to provide dry ration to those who stay with
their friends and relatives.
Ensuring safety of food
Co-ordinate with the Divisional Secretary to ensure that food supplied by local
authorities and other sources are hygienically prepared before distribution.
Ensure all the food supplies to the displaced are hygienically stored, prepared and
distributed.
Strictly monitor the preparation of food in food handling establishments.
“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 2-See Annexure
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7.5. Nutrition status of extremely vulnerable groups
The impacts of displacement are heavily felt to the women and children
since they are more vulnerable to the troubles and diseases. The
difficulties like loss of income earning opportunities, unstable house
hold, food security, frequent displacement, low food protection, poor
living conditions pave the way to deterioration of nutritional status of
women and children. Following are some of the health problems posed
to them.
Undernutrition
The prevalence of undernutrition is assessed by identifying 3 criteria
namely, underweight (weight for age), stunting (height for age) and
wasting (weight for height). It was observed that the status of reported
undernutrition is comparatively higher in the district like Mannar,
Batticaloa,Anuradhapura and Trincomalee.
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Observed from the Visit report done by NPDS for IDPs Project, Puttalam on
18.03.2008
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