I have just retuirned from a 4 month placemengt with UNHCR (the UN's Refugee Agency) in Sri Lanka. This placement was as part of Irish Aid's Rapid Response Corp.
I travelled to Sri Lanka in May in response to the large scale displacement of people in the north of the country, resulting from the final phase of fighting between the government foirces and the LTTE (Tamil Tigers).
As a field officer for UNHCR my responsibilities were various and varied. As part of the visa process I had to prepare a brief ToR which is probably the best way to summarise my role:
1.Monitor the situation in IDP camps and Returned Divisions & GN Divisions and assess IDP/Return needs, specifically in the shelter sector and distribution of NFIs.
2.Monitor delivery of assistance to vulnerable groups.
3.Improve the mechanisms for identification of humanitarian gaps in the delivery of assistance and protection in the Return & IDP sites and liaise with the Head of Sub-Office and other clusters to ensure appropriate steps are taken to address gaps.
4.Provide guidance and support to Government representatives at District level and in Return Divisions & GN Divisions, governmental camp managers and NGO partners working in the IDP sites, which include participation of IDP communities (Returned & in Camps or Host locations) in issues of humanitarian services and protection provided in their sites.
5.Strengthen coordination mechanisms between local authorities (GA, DS and GS levels plus military authorities) and NGO partners, in the framework of the Shelter Coordination Cell and the Watsan Cluster.
6.Together with the Shelter Coordinator, act as focal point for negotiations with government & military authorities, UN agencies and NGO partners on the provision of assistance to return Divisions/GN Divisions and camps
7.Improve the mechanisms for information management, including age and gender demographic data, and ensure proper analysis of the collected information in order to maximize delivery of assistance.
During my time in Sri Lanka I kept a regular diary of the events and experiences, ranging from protection monitoring in the IDP camps, supporting the return proccess for families allowed to return to their original villages and homes, the difficulties of establishing & managing a supply & logistics function in a remote part of the country - and the challenge of elephants (from finding them, to dodging them).
The return process is continuing - based on a 180 day plan by the Sri Lankan governbment, so I anticipate that I will return to Sri Lanka later in the year to continue my contribution to the work of UNHCR and the assistance of Irish Aid.
