Aid distribution, first aid services, health camps & well cleaning; Red Cross leads humanitarian response in post floods Sri Lanka
10/06/2017 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society which has launched an array of humanitarian response across the nation after floods and landslides devastated over 7 districts and affecting over half a million people.
Over 220 people lost their lives from incidents as a result of the calamities.
Even prior to the disaster the Red Cross branches in the South West of Sri Lanka were put on stand by as forecasts showed heavy rains for this part of the country.
Nor sooner the rain brought in floods branches in Rathnapura, Galle, Matara, Kalutara and in some parts of Colombo launched boat services with the support from Sri Lanka Navy to provide search and rescue and more so to provide first aid to people stranded.
During the first 48 hours the Red Cross mobilized volunteers across the devastated regions with aid distribution, search and rescue and more so to provide food and safe drinking water. Over 80,000 people in 4 districts received support from the Red Cross.
After moving most affected people to safety, the Red Cross launched providing non food relief items (sanitary wear and equipments, bedsheets, clothes and other essential items) and continuous first aid services. People were providing with cooked food and safe drinking water as well.
Soon after the emergency phase has ended the Red Cross swiftly moved towards providing medical services in affected areas to ensure that people who suffered the floods will not fall into another disasters.
Steps were also taken to provide well cleaning activities and disinfecting houses to ensure that people have the required resources to move back to their homes.
At times we were even supported by the US Military who sent their members to clean wells in flood affected areas.
Along side this the Sri Lanka Red Cross with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a 2.1 million dollar appeal to provide post flood relief care and to lead redevelopment and reconstruction efforts.
Details of the appeal can be found by clicking here
Also for real time updates of our flood relief efforts and support provided to people kindly visit our social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.