Security Event

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Fo c u s o f U p d a t e A n a l y s i s ( s e e M a p o n F o l l o w i n g P a g e ) B u i l d i n g D e s t r u c t i o n i n Va d d u v a k a l l u

ID:257

ID:239

ID:226 ID:225

ID:234
ID:233

ID:241
ID:236 ID:250
ID:262
ID:255
ID:238

ID:243 ID:240
ID:254 ID:245
ID:253
ID:251
ID:252

PLEASE NOTE: The following

analysis is based on satellite
imagery acquired on the morning
of 19 April 2009 and thus does
not reflect the dramatic changes
on the ground following the
reported SLA ground offensive
into the CSZ and resulting IDP
outflow on Monday-Tuesday 20-
21 April 2009. UNITAR/UNOSAT
will provide updated analysis as
new satellite imagery is acquired.

The depiction and use of boundaries, geographic names and related data shown here are
not warranted to be error-free nor do they imply official endorsement or acceptance by the
United Nations. UNOSAT is a program of the United Nations Institute for Training and
Contact Information: info@unosat.org 24/7 Hotline: +41 76
Research (UNITAR), providing satellite imagery & related geographic information, research
and analysis to UN humanitarian & development agencies & their implementing partners.
4 8 7 4 9 9 8 w w w. u n o s a t . o r g
Assessment by UNITAR/UNOSAT ‐ 26 April 2009 
PLEASE NOTE: The following analysis is based on satellite imagery acquired on the morning of 19 April 2009 and thus does not reflect the 
dramatic changes on the ground following the reported SLA ground offensive into the CSZ and resulting IDP outflow on Monday‐Tuesday 
20‐21 April 2009. UNITAR/UNOSAT will provide updated analysis as new satellite imagery is acquired.  

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY:  

UPDATE: Within the northern and southern sections of the Civilian Safe Zone (CSZ), there are new indications of building destruction and 
damages resulting from shelling and possible air strikes. This analysis was conducted with a time series of very high resolution satellite imagery 
from 5 February to 19 April 2009. The following assessment is made with a high degree of confidence with the understanding that it has not 
yet been independently validated in the field. The figures on building damages represent minimum estimates. Actual damages are likely to be 
greater. 

An additional 5 permanent buildings within the CSZ have been destroyed between 29 March & 19 April bringing the total estimate within the 
CSZ to approximately 60 main buildings destroyed. This count does not include potential damages to or destruction of IDP tent shelters. 
Because of their small size, portability and dense spacing, it is not possible to identify damages to IDP structures from mortar shells at an 
acceptable level of confidence.  

Outside the CSZ, immediately to the west and south there are continuing indications of sustained shelling and possible air strikes, with the 
major concentration of newly detected building destruction and hundreds of impact craters located in the eastern sections of PTK especially 
centered on the main road leading east into the CSZ. Building destruction continues south of the CSZ in the town of Vellamullivaikal and 
Mulattivu. The remaining transport roads connecting the CSZ to the mainland were blocked by the construction of multiple trenches, security 
fences and earthen berms. A main bridge leading to the CSZ (TZ2) was also closed by roadblocks and serious damages.  

Damages Inside CSZ: 

1. Putumattalan: Three permanent buildings have been destroyed between 29 March and 19 April, bringing the total for the northern 
section of the CSZ to six destroyed since 15 March. There are potentially large amounts of moderate to severe damages to the 
remaining permanent buildings in this area. 
 
2. Valayanmadam: 1 additional permanent building has been destroyed, and further south there is a cluster of likely impact craters 
within an area previously densely populated with IDP shelters.  

Damages Outside CSZ: 

3. Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK): The major concentration of newly detected building destruction and hundreds of impact craters is located 
in the eastern sections of PTK especially centered on the main route leading east into the CSZ. This route is now nonfunctional 
because of a series of road blocks, impact craters and trenches erected along the main road.  
 
4. Vadduvakallu: Building destruction continues in Vadduvakallu: 40 buildings destroyed between 29 March ‐19 April 2009 and a total 
of 148 building destroyed since 5 February 2009. A significant number of buildings were destroyed before 5 February 2009. A 
complete damage assessment is in progress by UNITAR/UNOSAT. 
 
5. Mulattivu:  Building destruction also continues in Mulattivu with a small number of new destruction between 29 March & 19 April.  
A complete damage assessment is in progress by UNITAR/UNOSAT. 
 
6. West of Putumattalan: Bridge closed by multiple roadblocks and road damages (29 March ‐19 April) (TZ2) transport into CSZ 
impossible. 

IDP (SHELTER) MOVEMENT SUMMARY:  

Over five thousand of IDP shelters were relocated within the CSZ during April under pressure from increased shelling and military operations 
along the western sections of the CSZ. The approximate area of IDP settlement has further shifted eastward towards the coastline and south 
into the areas of heavy shelling between the villages of Karaiyamullivaikal and Vellamullivaikal. 

1. The northern IDP shelter limit has remained stable between 29 March ‐19 April, however the density of IDPs here has sharply 
decreased. The southern IDP shelter limit has remained relatively stable between 29 March & 19 April, however the density of IDPs 
situated in the heavy shelling and damage zone between Karaiyamullivaikal and Vellamullivaikal has increased sharply. 
2. Over 5,500 IDP shelters moved from western side of the CSZ (29 March ‐19 April) likely in response to escalating military activity and 
shelling. This estimate has been severely limited by cloud cover, and thus is potentially larger by two to four thousand shelters. 

__________________________ 
!
"
! Analysis
Extent

3 impact craters next Click on Hyperlinked Text for Map Legend

to trench and road damages Satellite Focus Maps:
IDP Shelter Status (19 April 2009)
ID: 261 Cluster of small impact Relocated due to
craters in northern CSZ ...... suspected shelling
"
)
")
) "

Relocated due
...... to flood waters
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)
3 Permanent blds destroyed here (northern
")
) "

CSZ) (total of 6 Since 15 March) " Destroyed or

...... Severely Damaged
)
See ID:229 focus map
")
) "

Likely Unchanged
ID:230 ...... as of 6 March 2009
"
" "

Northern IDP shelter limit remained

09
20 stable between 29 March -19 April ...... Bridge
r il
"
)
Ap however density of IDPs northern
19 CSZ decreased in April. + ...... Road / Bridge Obstacle
+ ...... Vessel Hazard
ID:229
Shift of IDP shelters

F
......
CSZ Transit Route
Bridge closed by multiple roadblocks ......
ID:257 and road damages (29 March -19 April), Damage Sites (DS)
(TZ2) transport into CSZ impossible. ......
See ID:257 focus map
...... Civilian Safe Zone (CSZ)
Vessel Wreckage
+ ...... Current Northern IDP Limit
......
! ! ! !

ID:232
...... Current Southern IDP Limit
! ! ! !

Military Barrier, Earthen

...... Berm or Trench
! ! ! ! ! ! !

New Damage Site

ID:28
...... Detection
Permanent bld. destroyed in CSZ Clusters of People
surrounded by footprints of removed
PC 28
...... Detection
ID:226 ID:239 ID:225 IDP shelters See ID:250 focus map

ID:236 Over 5,000 IDP shelters moved from

ID:250 western side of the CSZ (29 March -
ID:238 ID:233 19 April) likely in response to escalating
military activity and shelling. Estimate
limited by cloud cover (See ID:250 focus map)

ID:243 Site of multiple likely

shelling craters within CSZ
Southern IDP shelter limit
(See ID:249 focus map)
ID:253 has remained stable,
F

however density of IDPs

ID:254 in this heavy shelling
ID:252 area of CSZ has sharply
ID:245 increased in April.
Major concentration of building
destruction and large impact craters
9
See focus maps series ID:225 to 253 ID:249
F 00
il2
A pr
19
Multiple trenches and PC12
earthen berms erected,
blocking CSZ access
Linear formation of
See focus map ID:254 people along beach
See PC12 Focus Map

ID:246

Permanent Bld. destroyed in

close proximity to earlier
Red text boxes indicate changes on ground suspected air strike damages
occurring between 29 March & 19 April 2009

Imagery Dates: 6, 15, 23 & 29 March, 19 April 09

Satellite Data: WorldView, QuickBird & Ikonos
Resolution: 0.5, 0.6 & 1.0 meters ID259
Copyright: NextView / DigitalGlobe 2009
Source: US Dept. of State (HIU) Three large craters (7- 8m
Security Analysis: UNOSAT diameter) south of CSZ
GIS Data: UNOSAT See ID259 Focus Map
Water Bodies: Extracted from Radarsat-2
Radar Dates: 19 & 23 March 2009
Copyright: CSA - MDA 2009
Projection: UTM Zone 44 North WGS-84
Map Date: 26 April 2009 Building destruction continues in
Vadduvakallu: 40 buildings destroyed
Map Scale for A4: 1:60,000
I Kilometers
0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5
between 29 March -19 April 2009
Total of 148 blds destroyed since 5 Feb.
See ID256 Focus Map
ID:256

Data frame rotated 14 degrees

The depiction and use of boundaries, geographic names and related data
shown here are not warranted to be error-free nor do they imply official
endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. UNOSAT is a program of
the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), providing
satellite imagery & related geographic information, research and analysis to
UN humanitarian & development agencies & their implementing partners.
C o n t a c t I n f o r m a t i o n : i n f o @ u n o s a t . o r g 2 4 / 7 H o t l i n e : + 4 1 7 6 4 8 7 4 9 9 8 w w w. u n o s a t . o r g
 Hyper linked Retur n to Map Over view

DMS: 091956.63N 0804513.47E Focus Map Location

19 April 2009

Permanent building destroyed

between 29 March & 19 April

© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009

NextView License

29 March 2009

Over 800 IDP shelters visible within this

area of CSZ on 29 March 2009 have been
removed as of 19 April 2009 likely in response
to escalating military activity and shelling.

© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009

NextView License

Meters
I 1:3,000 0 25 50 100 150 200
 Hyper linked Retur n to Map Over view

DMS: 091900.49N 0804705.62E Focus Map Location

19 April 2009

F
people in linear formations
along beach within CSZ
(numbering in low hundreds).
© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009
NextView License

Meters
I 1:800 0 10 20 40 60

DMS: 091921.00N 0804531.47E

19 April 2009
F

F
F

Suspected Site of multiple

shelling craters within CSZ
F

© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009

NextView License

Meters
1:1,200
I
! 0 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
 Hyper linked Retur n to Map Over view

DMS: 092151.06N 0804317.65E Focus Map Location

19 April 2009
3 permanent blds destroyed between
29 March & 19 April, 3 additional blds
destroyed between 15 -29 March.

F
F

F F
F

trench filled with water (w:7m, L:850m)

constructed along road between 15 -29 March.
© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009
NextView License

Meters
I 1:1,400 0 10 20 40 60 80 100

DMS: 092109.43N 0804326.50E

Bridge closed by multiple roadblocks 19 April 2009

and road damages (29 March -19 April),

Bridge connecting CSZ

demolished by trench barrier
constructed between 29
March & 19 April 2009
F

Road leading to bridge

blocked by security fence
F

Trench barrier

© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009

F

NextView License

I
! 1:5,000 0 50 100 200
Meters
300
 Hyper linked Retur n to Map Over view

DMS: 091932.44N 0804433.90E Focus Map Location

19 April 2009

Area of multiple
small impact craters Crater formed before Large Trench Trench 500m Long
5 February 2009 & Earthen Berm
750m long
F

F
F

Road blocked
F

F
F
© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009
NextView License Agreement

Meters
I 1:3,500 0 25 50 100 150 200 250

DMS: 091949.00N 0804436.33E

Multiple impact craters of 19 April 2009

varying diameter (1-12m )
F

F
F

F
F
F

Large impact crater

(12m diameter )

Large Trench & Earthen Berm

Approx 15m wide & 750m long

© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009

NextView License Agreement

Meters
! 1:2,800
I 0 25 50 100 150 200
 Hyper linked Retur n to Map Over view

DMS: 091959.05N 0804410.68E Focus Map Location

19 April 2009
Area of intense
shelling / bombardment
F

IDP family-built trenches and

shelter footprints left after relocation
F

ID:225

F ID:234
Two 4-5m
impact craters
F
ID:239 © DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009
NextView License Agreement

Meters
I 1:4,300 0 25 50 100 150 200 250 300

DMS: 091957.62N 0804346.36E

Area of intense shelling / bombardment: 19 April 2009

1st period of craters formed between 15-29 March,
2nd period of craters formed between 29 March -19 April
F

F
ID:226

F
F
F

ID:237

ID:262
© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009
F

NextView License Agreement

Meters
I
! 1:3,500 0 25 50 100 150 200 250

ID:238
 Hyper linked Retur n to Map Over view

DMS: 091739.93N 0804826.36E Focus Map Location

19 April 2009

F
Three craters 7-9m diameter
& one smaller crater of 3m

ID:259
F

© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009

NextView License Agreement

Meters
I 1:3,000 0 25 50 100 150 200

DMS: 091709.70N 0804810.02E

Building destruction continues in 19 April 2009

Vadduvakallu: 40 buildings destroyed
between 29 March -19 April 2009
Total of 148 blds destroyed since 5 Feb.
This image extent is a focus zoom over
a portion of the town destruction.

Destroyed buildings generally

have load-bearing interior and
exterior walls left intact with
the roof removed.

© DigitalGlobe Inc. 2009

NextView License Agreement

Meters
I
! 1:2,250 0 25 50 100 150
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