Right to Health of Internally Displaced Persons - IDP SriLanka

07.01.2005-General Circular: 01-01/2005, Guidelines
for provision of Health Promotion and Education
Services following the disaster caused by Tsunami, by
Director General of Health Services.
10.01.2005- General Circular Letter No: Guidelines
for management of public health effects in the
community following Tsunami disaster, by Director
General of Health Services.
In addition following guidelines/instructions were also issued
01.01.2005-Guidelines for Provisions of Maternal and Child
Health Services following the disaster caused by Tsunami, by
Additional Secretary Medical Services
07.01.2005-Distributuion of the health card for IDPs in campstsunami
2004, by Deputy Director General (PHS)
13.01.2005-Guideline for feeding infants and young children
(1-5 years) including orphans and those not living with mothers
(Tsunami affected areas), by Director, Maternal and Child
Health, FHB.
It is true that the tsunami devastation in 2004 destroyed and displaced a
lager number of human lives. These types of approaches by health
authorities should be admired and praised for preventing further health
problems following the Tsunami. At the same time, the conflict for more
than two decades has caused more than millions of people displaced
from their natural habitats and such displacement is still happening. The
difference of two types of disasters is one is man made and the other is
natural. Especially displacement from conflict is always being treated as
secondary vis-à-vis displacement by Tsunami, by both state authorities
and also by private organizations. But it is obvious that the conflict
affected IDPs are also being displaced without their wrongs and the state
and other humanitarian actors should have similar concern and
responsibility for the problems aroused from such displacement.
The above circulars and guidelines specifically demonstrate that they are
to handle the health problems after Tsunami. But the health authorities of
the view that those circulars and guidelines equally address the health
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