ACTIVE CONFLICT

NATURAL DISASTERS

AIDS

SOCIAL EXCLUSION

REFUGEES/ DISPLACED PEOPLE

OTHERS

Hunger

Food insecurity

The main causes of hunger/food insecurity in this country are marked in red

Launch of mission: 1996 Local staff: 224 Expatriate staff: 17 Locations:Jaffna (North); Tricomalee, Batticolao and Colombo Water and sanitation, food security,

Geopolitical and humanitarian context before the tsunami of 26 December 2004

In 1983, a civil war broke out in the north and north-east of Sri Lanka between the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) who held a part of the country, and the government army. This war lasted nearly 20 years, resulting in 60,000 deaths, huge displacements (nearly one million people), blatant human rights violations, severe social and economic instability and the destruction of infrastructure. Since 1996, Action Against Hunger has implemented food security as well as water and sanitation programmes, assisting displaced and vulnerable people affected by the conflict. On 26 December 2006, a tsunami struck South Easr Asia. In Sri Lanka alone, 30,000 people were killed and 800,000 people displaced. The south and east of the country were particularly damaged - material possessions and harvests were widely destroyed and accessibility of drinking water was difficult.

Despite the signing of a ceasefire in 2002 and a truce following the tsunami, the conflict between the armed forces and the Tamil rebels has intensified since the start of 2006. Since April 2006, the situation has deteriorated with incidents taking place nearly every day. The increase in violence has forced some populations to flee from the fighting. In June 2006, 25,000 were still displaced, especially in the east of the country. Despite problems of access and a difficult security situation, Action Against Hunger is implementing emergency programmes to assist the population.

Our Programmes

Action Against Hunger continues to support people displaced by the tsunami and the conflict to improve the population's food security.

WATER AND SANITATION

• Water and sanitation programmes (creation of water management committees, hygiene education, rehabilitation of fishing areas...)
• Long-term research programme in partnership with the Institut of Research and Development. The aim is to respond to the population's long-term needs in drinking water.

Food Security

• Distribution of boats and fishing kits; tools, irrigation pumps
• Distribution of seeds and agricultural tools, agricultural training
• Income-generating activities: distribution of artisan kits, 'remuneration for work' programmes (rehabilitation of roads and fields).
• Monitoring of impact of distributions, the socio-economic context etc
  
  Since 26 Decembre 2004, more than 40,000 people have benefited from Action Against Hunger's water and sanitation programmes and 32,000 people from our food security programmes.
  
  Action Against Hunger is also assisting people affected by the recent violence in Sri Lanka. Action Against Hunger has launched an emergency water and sanitation programme:

• Provision of drinking water
• Distribution of jerrycans
• Construction of latrines

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