Thousands of people of western, southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces of Sri Lanka are affected by the heavy rains and flashfloods. The western province is the worst hit with 34,535 families affected in Colombo district, 15,809 families affected in Kalutara district and 47,303 families affected in Gampaha district as to the sources of Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka. If the rains continue there is a risk of more displacement, health hazards as well as landslides in the affected areas.
The Sarvodaya-JDC Community Disaster Management Centre has made a public appeal today to assist the affected communities. In a brief meeting this morning at the Centre to plan and implement the emergency flood relief operations it was noted that more than 220 Sarvodaya Service Villages have been affected by the floods as at today in Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Galle and Rathnapura districts (21st May, 2010). Sarvodaya has already distributed more than 2,500 food parcels to the affected communities.
Under the emergency flood relief operations Sarvodaya has already provided 300 food parcels in Moratuwa area in Colombo district, 575 food parcels in Gampaha District and 1,688 food parcels in Kalutara district. This will continue in days to come.
Sarvodaya appeals the friends and organizations to provide the following essential items to assist the affected: milk powder, toilet soup, washing soap, towels, baby napkins, baby and women sanitary items, bed sheets, mosquito coil packets, 1 liter and 5 liter bottles, mosquito nets, candle packets, safety match boxes, hurricane lamps, tin sheets and family tents (list adapted from Disaster Management Center of Sri Lanka).
Sarvodaya also wishes to appeal for mats and new children’s clothes for the affected.
Sarvodaya is in the process of organizing health clinics with Sarvodaya Community Health Unit to treat the affected and to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Sarvodaya Shanthi Sena has organized its youth membership in cleaning the polluted water wells. Distribution of food parcels, community cooking, dissemination of landslide risk information to vulnerable communities will continue.
For more information of the situation please see the following documents.
Situation report as at 1800 Hrs on 20.05.2010 (Disaster Management Center of Sri Lanka)
Flood affected areas as at 1200 Hrs on 20./05.2010 (Disaster Management Center of Sri Lanka)
If you need to have more information of the Sarvodaya Relief Operations please contact Mr. Subasena de Silva, Deputy Executive Director [email protected] 0777635015 or Mr. Chamindha Rajakaruna, Director (Programmes) [email protected] 0777710205.
