These newly displaced people fled their homes in the Vavunatheevu and Karadiyanaru areas and headed for the town of Batticaloa, where they are now sheltering in local schools and in camps set up over the past few months by humanitarian organizations working in cooperation with the local authorities. Together with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, the ICRC has already provided about 5,000 of these people with 1,750 mats, 900 tents, 450 hygiene kits (soap, washing powder, razors, towels and shampoo), 850 jerrycans, 170 baby kits (laundry soap, washable diapers, baby powder, blankets and towels).

The ICRC is also installing sanitary facilities and water-distribution systems at Korralankerni camp, where the newly displaced are gradually arriving. In other camps, located in Alankulam, Kiran and Mavadivembu, the ICRC is continuing to distribute drinking water on a daily basis and to build latrines and showers. The ICRC launched its relief operation in Batticaloa district in cooperation with the local authorities and other humanitarian organizations present on the ground.

The ICRC reminds both parties to the conflict of their obligation to comply with international humanitarian law, especially of their duty to protect the civilian population and to grant freedom of movement to internally displaced people.