The parties agreed on immediate measures aimed at improving the security situation, inter-ethnic co-operation and respect for human rights in the North and East. In order to ensure that sufficient attention is concentrated on the broad range of issues, three new sub-committees were established. It is not yet clear how the sub-committees will operate in conjunction with the National Co-ordination Committee for Relief (NCCR).

The Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN), which deals primarily with IDP issues, consists of 4 members selected by the Government and 4 by the LTTE. The delegations are led by Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke, Director General of the Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process and Mr Thamilchelvan, Leader of the LTTE Political Wing. The other two sub-committees, focussing on Military De-escalation and Normalisation and Political Matters, will also be responsible for addressing some IDP-related issues (such as housing in the high-security zones).

The first meeting of the SIHRN took place on 18 November in Kilinochchi, with future talks scheduled for 15?16 December 2002 and 15-16 January 2003. The Secretariat to the sub-committee is set to commence work at the December meeting, and procedural guidelines and the financial structure of the Secretariat have now been established. The SIHRN will report to the second round of peace talks, to take place in Oslo from 2?5 December 2002.

The Government White Paper, Meeting Immediate Needs, which combines various elements of existing government strategy, was the subject of discussions at Oslo. The next step will be for the SIHRN to develop a joint plan to be used as the basis for discussions at the Tokyo donor conference in 2003. A date for the Tokyo event has not been set as yet.

The World Bank has agreed to provide $US 31 million for an Emergency Reconstruction Program (ERP) which is geared toward people living in the North East Province. The ERP is designed to improve the infrastructure of health care facilities, water schemes, income generation and employment opportunities, build the capacity to facilitate reconstruction programmes in years to come. The ERP programme will be administered by the North East Provincial Council within the context of the Triple-R Framework. "We have offered this assistance to help those who are among the most vulnerable of Sri Lanka's poor, as part of the World Bank's primary mission of helping to reduce poverty," said Peter Harrold, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka. The World Bank is also donating a portion of funds to the UAS scheme.

While most IDPs and refugees may see return to their places of origin as the preferred solution to their displacement, this is not universally the case. As the rapidly developing peace process and the quest for solutions to the problems of displacement continue, it can be easy to overlook the importance of consulting with the displaced regarding the ‘right to choose’ their own future.

At this time it is crucial, for both national authorities and humanitarian agencies alike, to remain mindful of the range of options available to the displaced, in particular the alternatives to return to the place of origin. In many cases, particularly after long-term displacement, IDP families may choose to stay in the location of displacement, and to pursue local integration. These IDPs may desire, and deserve, the support to do so. In other cases, particularly for landless IDPs, relocation might be the solution of choice. Equally, this choice must be respected, and supported.

Consultation of IDPs themselves about their future should remain at the top of the agenda of all seeking to provide assistance or offer durable solutions for the displaced. In addition, it is essential to recognise the responsibility of the Government and of humanitarian agencies to ensure suitable preconditions for return, relocation or local integration in safety and dignity. This means ensuring that the legal, material and security conditions are suitable to permanently sustain the population.

UNHCR recently undertook a mission to the north to assist the Government of Sri Lanka with the gathering, consolidation and dissemination of information pertaining to IDPs and IDP returnees. It is expected that as a result more districts will soon be able to provide frequent and consistent information to the MRRR/PPCU and UNHCR.

As a part of the first phase of the needs assessment, UNHCR, UNDP and the ILO have already begun assessing the local social and economic development potential in the country as it pertains to IDP returnees and ex-combatants. ILO is looking at the issue of ex-combatants should there be widespread de-mobilisation of armed forces. At present, a $US 400,000 pilot project is being funded by the Norwegians to address reintegration of former paramilitary groups.

Despite the varying needs and experiences of IDPs, it has been necessary to establish common criteria to determine eligibility for UAS support, as well as basic principles to ensure equitable and appropriate distribution of funds. These basic principles should include guarantees that all IDP/refugee returns are voluntary, in safety and dignity; community-based benefits should be visible; distribution should be equitable, transparent and without corruption; UAS should be available only to those who have returned and demonstrated an intention to stay; and finally UAS should not, in any way, be subject to taxation or other reductions by authorities.

The list of eligible returnees will be provided by the newly formed Village Rehabilitation Committees (VRCs) and forwarded to the Divisional Secretariat for approval. The approved list will be passed to the NECORD District Office for payment into the bank/post office account. The system would be established so that the family, not just a single member of the household, has access to the funds, for example through the establishment of a joint account. The UAS will only be distributed as a financial grant, and not in the form of in-kind materials.

Implementation of the UAS scheme is planned to commence on 1 December 2002.

One of UNICEF’s key objectives is to increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation for the returning displaced and host communities in the North and East, with a specific focus on primary schools and health centres. During the last week of October, UNICEF and WHO jointly conducted a 4-day rapid appraisal of water and sanitation needs in the North and East districts, with the technical assistance of Mr. Marc Gordon, international water and sanitation expert. The aim was to identify the best modalities of support to the Government and other stakeholders in determining priority areas for interventions in 2003.

While concern about underage recruitment remains, there have been some releases of child soldiers over the past month. UNICEF has been working with UNHCR, ILO, Save the Children Alliance, Care International and other international organisations on minimum guidelines for the reintegration of underage combatants.

In an effort to continue to support psychosocial interventions in the North and East, UNICEF has provided psychosocial training for community-based care to returning communities in Jaffna and is undergoing a realignment of its psychosocial initiatives to ensure greater sustainability and that the support addresses the changing context in the north and east. From 27 October to 3 November Dr. Nancy Baron, international psychosocial consultant, provided technical assistance to the agency and the Government of Sri Lanka on the development of a psychosocial programme to address psychosocial needs, including plans for a rapid survey of the existing capacity to address psychosocial needs of the country.

Addressing the increased need posed by the recent large-scale movement of population, UNICEF continues to scale up its Mine Risk Education (MRE) activities in Jaffna and Vanni districts. As a follow up to the rapid assessment of the MRE programme undertaken in May, Mr. Hannoch Barlevi, international MRE consultant, supported the office for 10 days, strengthening the ongoing MRE programme and designing an action plan to further scale up MRE and survivor assistance. Mr. Barlevi will return in December 2002 to provide long-term technical expertise.

In the last week of October the second round of Sub-National Immunisation Days was held in the Northern and Eastern districts, organised by the Government with support from UNICEF and other organisations. This year’s campaign aimed at vaccinating 273,000 children under-five years of age against polio. These are children living in districts where immunisation coverage has been comparatively lower than other parts of the country as consequence of the conflict.

Through the Government Agents in the North and East districts, UNICEF has ensured the delivery of the following relief items to returning IDP families: 2270 kitchen sets and 500 saucepans, 750 plastic caps, 325 plastic buckets, 6,277 lanterns, and 35 water tanks.

Last month, UNICEF and Government officers undertook a joint field visit to the Vanni to assess the possibility for future support for salt iodisation in Kilinochchi district to control Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) in the area.

The HDU is effectively operating as the senior partner for mine action in the Vanni, and is working with the GA to provide the necessary co-ordination and support required. The District Mine Action office of Vavuniya is designated to provide technical support in the form of a remote Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) computer terminal along with technical training to a HDU/NPA clerk to facilitate the input and access to mine action information. The District Offices in Vavuniya and Jaffna have an IMSMA terminal and clerks who are undergoing training in Colombo at the main office.

An MRE needs assessment has been conducted throughout the Trincomalee region, facilitated by UNICEF, with the support of local NGOs which have co-ordinated and trained their volunteers using a locally-designed survey protocol. Results from the needs assessment will be collected and analysed by the IMSMA office of the District Mine Action Office, Vavuniya.

HIV and AIDS affects 42 million people today, 95% of them live in developing countries. The epidemic is more pronounced in poor countries where there fewer opportunities for people, especially in terms of access to social services.

As the epidemic grows around the world some countries are witnessing growing prevalence rates which threaten entire regions. For example a prevalence rate of one or a few percentage points in India, China, Indonesia or Nigeria amounts to millions of HIV infected people. UNAIDS expresses its concern about the growing rate of transmission and is concerned about the rapid spread of the epidemic in populous countries, notably in the former Soviet Union and many countries in Asia.

Despite growing awareness of the problem, the world’s response to people living with HIV and AIDS is inadequate. According to UNAIDS, “Less than 5% - or 300.000 persons - out of some 6 million people in need of treatment in low and middle income countries presently have access. The imbalance and inequality in access is unacceptable. Scaling up access to treatment, care and support must be a priority - this is en ethical imperative and an investment that makes good economic sense which also benefit national security and social stability.” By 2005, the World Health Organisation (WHO) believes that it is possible to reach 3 million people with anti-retroviral treatment if appropriate steps are taken by host governments to provide access to medication and services to those living with HIV and AIDS.