Heavy monsoon
rains across north-central and eastern Sri Lanka have caused widespread
flooding, forcing 250,000 people from their homes and killing one
person. Thousands of acres of paddy fields are flooded. Most of the
affected people in the north and north-central regions have temporarily
moved to school buildings and halls of religious institutions. Those
affected in Batticaloa and Amparai continue to face the threat of
a cyclone. The meteorology department is forecasting more rain over
the next two days but says the worst is over.
The affected areas
include Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura (north central region), Kilinochchi
(northern region), Batticaloa and Amparai (eastern coast), Trincomalee
(northwestern coast), Matara (southern coast) and various parts of
Jaffna (northern peninsula).
The government
is reporting that it is taking steps to reach those affected through
local government structures, but its response is slow.
The ACT member
there, the National Council of Churches-Sri Lanka (NCCSL), has received
requests from many of its partners in the east, north, north-central
and south for immediate assistance. NCCSL says that so far, no serious
waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and flu are reported, but from
its previous experiences, it anticipates an outbreak of such diseases.
NCCSL will receive
US$30,000 in Rapid Response Funds from the ACT Coordinating Office
to assist 2,600 families in Batticaloa, Thirukovil, Ampara, Jaffna
and Polonnaruwa with immediate relief over the next four weeks. It
will distribute food (rice, dhal, sugar, tea, canned fish, flour and
bottled water), soap, kitchen utensils and mats. It will also provide
medical assistance, including basic medicines, medical equipment,
physicians and pharmacists.
Once the floods
subside, NCCSL will conduct another assessment to determine if there
is a need for rehabilitation work, for which an appeal might follow.
