Floods, landslides and adverse weather, affects over 100,000; Red Cross responds

UPDATE 2 

18/11/2015 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) is responding to various emergencies as a result of adverse weather conditions in most parts of Sri Lanka. 138,676 people living in 14 districts, mostly in the north are affected by floods, landslides and heavy rains. SLRCS volunteers through its branch network has been providing relief and humanitarian support from the onset of the emergency.

In Jaffna, the most affected district, the SLRCS branch volunteers has been assisting in evacuation and coordination with Government Authorities to ensure people affected are brought to safety. Over 86,000 people living in 09 divisional secretariats are affected from this emergency.

Most of them are housed at two temporary camps in Osamaniya Tamil School and another in Sinnamadu Tamil School. Here the Red Cross distributed tarpaulins, hygiene kits & bed sheets. Our volunteers also assisted in distribution of cooked food and milk power to the people housed at the camps.

In Kilinochchi the SLRCS branch has provided non food relief items. There are over 1,500 families housed in temporary camps within the district limits. Branch volunteers also supported in evacuating the affected during the early part of the disaster and providing first aid services within the temporary camps.

Branch Disaster Response Teams (BDRT) were also mobilized across the district where they aided to clear roads that were blocked by fallen trees in the Uruthirapuram village in Kilinochchi. The branch also distributed 80 number of bed sheets to the elders from Poonagar village currently residing in Thirumurugandy camp, in Kilinochchi. Baby and adult hygiene kits were also distributed.

Meanwhile in Mullativu, over 2,700 families were affected from flash floods and have been moved to temporary camps. Our branch in Mullativu took steps to provide non food relief items. Assessments are also underway to see the damage to houses within the district and to ensure safety of the people when they move back to their residence.

In other districts (Puttalam, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Gampaha, Vavuniya, Galle, Kegalle, Auradhapura, Matale & Mannar) our branches has deployed branch disaster response teams to assess the condition and to ascertain accurate information as to how many people are being affected due to the floods.

Meanwhile the President of SLRCS Jagath Abeysinghe also toured flood affected areas in the Chilaw District yesterday.

“Our volunteers across the island are providing emergency relief to the people affected” says the President.

“We are currently coordinating with the IFRC, Government Authorities and our branch network to determine the best course of action. More rains have been forecasted, so we expect this would worsen in the coming days”

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UPDATE 1.

16/11/2015 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: Incessant rains have resulted in flash floods in many parts of Sri Lanka specially in the northern province affecting over 37,000 people. People living in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullativu, Trincomalee, Puttalam, Matale & Mannar districts are the worst affected.

From the onset the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has been providing relief support to affected families through our branch network in the above mentioned districts.

In Kilinochchi the SLRCS branch has provided non food relief items. There are over 1,500 families housed in temporary camps within the district limits. Branch volunteers also supported in evacuating the affected during the early part of the disaster.

Branch Disaster Response Teams were also mobilized across the district where they aided to clear roads that were blocked by fallen trees in the Uruthirapuram village in Kilinochchi. The branch also distributed 80 nos; of bed sheets to the elders from Poonagar village currently reside in Thirumurugandy camp, in Kilinochchi. Baby and adult hygiene kits were also distributed.

Meanwhile in Mullativu, 575 families were affected from flash floods and have been moved to temporary camps. Our branch in Mullativu took steps to provide non food relief items to the people affected by floods.

In Trincomalee, over 1,500 families living in three divisional secretariats are affected by flash floods. Currently Government Authorities have established three temporary camps to which our volunteers are providing relief support. Our First Aid teams have also been established within the camps to provide the necessary health care support.

In other districts (Puttalam, Jaffna, Matale & Mannar) our branches deployed branch disaster response teams to assess the condition and to ascertain accurate information as to how many people are being affected due to the floods.

Meanwhile the President of SLRCS Jagath Abeysinghe also toured flood affected areas in the Chilaw District yesterday. The Chairman of the Chilaw Branch Charles E. Corea along with the Chairman of the Finance Commission Prasanna Dassanayake also joined the President during the inspection tour.

Steps were taken to provide food items to the affected.

According to Meteorological Department, showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern half and South-western parts of the island in the next 24hrs. Heavy falls (about 100 mm) are also likely at some places. Our branches are closely coordinating with the Disaster Management Ministry when providing relief support.

Please note that real time updates of our relief work is available on our twitter account @SLRedCross & A/V material can be used from our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/srilankaredcross)