Flood Situation - June, 2008
Due to torrential rainresulting from the South West monsoon, some districts of the western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa of Sri Lanka have been experiencing flood situation since 30th May 2008. The most effected districts are Colombo,Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle and Matara. Also a land slide has occured at the Ambagamuwa Korale, Bulathsinhala, Eheliyagoda, Warakapola and Ratnapura Divisional secretariates.
Floods have caused immense damage to affected areas, interrupting all economic and social activities. It is also reported that there are tremendous damages to infrastructure facilities in the areas. Around families 94,500 consisting of 418,354 have been affected and 23 deaths were reported by District authorities. Most of affected people have been settled temporary camps located at schools, charity organizations and community centers of the affected areas. The victims are suffering untold hardships, as their settlement were destroyed by washed out flood water.
The District and Divisional Secretaries of the affected areas have been instructed to take whatever action for protecting the people affected and to providing the emergency needs of the victims. A sum of Rs. 27 Million has been released to relevant District secretaries to provide emergency needs of the victims. The arrangement will be made to release further funds to the relevant district secretaries providing basic need of the affected people on the request by District Secretaries.
However, the situation is arising to continue emergency relief assistance programme as affected people are unable to provide thair meals due to interrupting their all income earning activities. The Government unable to fulfill all needs of the victims due to financial constrain. In this juncture, it is therefore highly appriciated if you can make arrangements to provide the following items to the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services for meeting immediate essential requirements of the Flood victims.Please contact dndmc@sltnet.lk
<Situation Report>
Recent severe Disasters in Sri Lanka
The
Ministry of Disaster
Relief Services that
was formed resulting
from reformation of
the cabinet, is located
at 189, Galle Road,
Colombo 03. Under the
Gazette No. 1422/22,
dated on 08th December
2005, the subject of
Disaster consisting
Preperation, Response
and Recovery measures
has been assigned to
the new Ministry and
also funds for these
activities have been
allocated to the Ministry,
ensuring to handle pre
and post disaster activities
effectively.
The
National Disaster Management
Center of the Ministry
of Social Welfare and
Widespread Disaster
Unit of the Department
of Social Services are
now functioning under
the purview of the new
Ministry. An Emergency
Operation unit will
be established at the
Ministry of providing
efficient and immediate
emergency services and
coordinating the activities,
during the Post Disaster
period.
The
functions assigned to
the Ministry are given
below for your information.
•
Planning and Implementation
Programmes to meet impact
of Disasters
•
Providing Response assistance
to victims of Disasters
•
Monitoring, Coordination
and Evaluation the activities
of disaster response
and recovery with relevant
authorities and parties
concerned
•
Implementation of Search
and Rescue operations
at Natural and Human
made Disasters
• Implementation
of Recovery Programmes
to regain and re-establish
live hood and economic
activities disrupted
by disasters
•
Contribution to Sustainable
Development Programmes
of the affected areas
through disaster response
and recovery
• Conducting
awareness programmes
to making awareness
Officials, General public
and school children
in relation to Hazards,
Risk and Vulnerability
of Disaster Management
•
Planning and Implementation
programmes of Risk Reduction
The
following activities
are planned to implement
in 2006, achieving of
Mahinda Chintana Programme.
• Examine
and reorganizing existing
Relief Assistance Programme
to ensure for providing
excelent services to
disaster victims
•
Setting up an Emergency
Operation Unit at the
Ministry
•
Setting up Disaster
Resource Centers to
each Districts
• Implementation
of Disaster Mitigation
Programmes to reduce
Risk and Vulnerability
in disaster prone areas
eg: Construction of
rain water harvesting
•
Mapping flood prone
areas in the Kalutara
District
• Establishment
of Disaster Response
Teams at the school
level
•
Setting up Disaster
Management Coordinating
Committees to each Divisional
Secretariats
•
Preperation of Divisional
Level Disaster Response
and Action Plan to each
Divisional Secretariats
•
Developing a web site
and Disaster Information
System to Sri Lanka
•
Implementing an Income
Generating Programme
among Tsunami and War
victims in the Batticola
District
