The HAP membership and its Secretariat have released the annual review of the "year that was", the 2011 Humanitarian Accountability Report. This year's report was published in conjunction with the 2011 HAP Secretariat Report.

Key messages

• Rice prices have been rising in the last months but stabilized in January while wheat flour prices, although remained stable, were very high, mainly due to import dependence.

• Although food security has improved, poor groups particularly children suffer from high levels of malnutrition. Agencies are concerned over a serious food security situation.

This report indicates the UN and NGO partner response to continuing humanitarian needs and early recovery concerns, in support to the Sri Lankan Government’s efforts to rebuild the former conflict-affected regions. Activities show progress towards the sectoral priorities and goals described in the 2011 Joint Plan for Assistance

I. SITUATION OVERVIEW & HIGHLIGHTS

COLOMBO, 26 December 2011 (IRIN) - Seven years after a devastating tsunami struck Sri Lanka, more work still needs to be done to secure an effective early-warning system, officials say.

More than 30,000 Sri Lankans lost their lives in the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 that struck 13 countries and left more than 200,000 dead across the region.

"We need to improve communication between the agencies," Pradeep Kodippili, assistant director, early warning, at the government's Disaster Management Centre (DMC) told IRIN in Colombo, the capital.

The Disaster Management Centre informs that 10,225 families have been displaced due to the inclement weather situation and majority of them are from the Kilinochchi District. The situation has also affected holding of the GCE ordinary level examination in some areas.

Persons with Disabilities Forced to Live Under Difficult Circumstances Due to the Civil War and Floods

From the end of 2010 to the beginning of 2011, approximately 1,000,000 people have been affected by the massive flooding in eastern Sri Lanka. AAR JAPAN dispatched an emergency support team from its Tokyo Headquarters office and distributed food and essential non-food items to a total of approximately 1,600 families.

The death toll due to heavy rains accompanied by stormy winds in Sri Lanka’s southern coastal areas rose to 20.

Heavy rains and stormy winds that affected several districts in Sri Lanka have affected more than 60,000 people while displacing over 6000 persons.

The Disaster Management Centre DMC Monday morning said that 66286 people of 16837 families have been affected, the death toll rose to 20 with 20 persons still reported missing. Most of the missing persons are reported to be fishermen went on fishing on the fateful day

The President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed state officials to assess the situation in the areas hit by heavy rains and winds yesterday November 25 and provide urgent relief to the people affected by the disaster immediately.

The President has met with relevant authorities this morning at the Temple Trees to discuss the immediate measures need to be taken to provide relief to the people affected by the heavy rains and winds in southern coastal areas.

54,844 persons belonging to 13,663 families have been affected, a total of 1723 persons (427 families) have been displaced in temporary evacuation centers. There are 19 deaths,40 injured and 43 missing are reported. Moreover, there are 630 houses were fully damaged and 5491 houses were partially damaged (Source: Situation report 27th November 2011, 18.00 hrs DMC / District Secretariats).