Due to heavy rains over the past few days parts of the Northern districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Trincomalee, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu have been affected by floods.
Specialized sources report that a disturbance on the northern part of Sri Lanka is affecting the weather in the North and East but is moving north-west towards the southern parts of India (from Lat 10.6 N Long 79.6 E to 11.2 N 77.7 E). The current Tropical Storm is forecasted to be downgraded into a Tropical Depression, although adverse weather conditions are expected to continue to affect the Jaffna peninsula during the next 24hr, with projected winds up to 95 and 50 km/h tonight. The rainfall data for the 24hrs ending at 08.30 am on 25th indicate that Jaffna has received 197.5 mm of rain; Mannar 93.3; Katugastota 46.9 and Trincomalee 46.7. No data is available for Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu [the Vanni] where rains have affected areas where IDPs are concentrated and water reservoirs [tanks] are reported to be at risk of overflowing.
Jaffna
Since 22 November 2008, there has been 719.4 mm of rainfall and cyclonic winds up to 80km/hr in the Jaffna peninsula causing widespread flooding. There has been no electricity since 25 November 2008 at 2000. The sea level increased overnight and in some areas, the situation has been adversely affected by the blocking of drainage canals. Causeways have been flooded, isolating the Islands off the main Peninsula.
Government Agent Jaffna held a meeting on the 26th November 2008 where he requested support from Government partners, UN agencies, INGO, NGOs to assist the affected populations. Primary needs include food, shelter and water/sanitation and non-food related items.
The Government food stock has not been damaged; however, some of the food stocks in the WFP Kopay warehouse have been damaged.
The Government has indicated they have / will undertake the following actions:
-Provide cooked meals for 1 week;
- Electricity during the night-time will be provided to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital;
- Drinking water will be provided by browser to common areas where people have displaced;
- Roads will be cleared of debris to the extent possible;
- Landlines restored in most areas;
- School exams will be postponed until further notice;
- RDHS will assist with mobile clinics;
- GA will liaise with SLA to open canals.
Action by the UN
- UNHCR will coordinate NRFIs as soon the Divisional Secretariat's have finished their assessment;
- UNICEF will assist with WASH related items;
- WFP will provide dry rations at the request of the GA;
Weather permitting, a UN/NGO coordination meeting will be held tomorrow afternoon and a follow up meeting with the GA and government partners is scheduled for Friday afternoon. Coordination mechanisms are in place and the Jaffna UN Contingency Plan has been activated, although if rains continue, impassable roads and limited staffing will impact response capacity.
Mannar
Nearly 3,000 families have been displaced (2,555 in the Mannar DS division, 122 in Nanaddan and 355 in Madhu). Most displaced families are housed in public building such as schools and religious places. Assistance is being provided by the District Secretary
Trincomalee
Heavy rains in Trincomalee over the past couple of days have mostly affected Eachchilampattai, Kinniya, Kuchchaveli, Muttur DS, and Town and Gravets. The District Disaster Management Unit (DDMU) is currently collecting information from the different district and conducting assessment to the different areas.
Muttur:
- Villages seriously affected are Azath Nagar, Hagag Nagar and Dhaqwa. Water is stagnated and some roads are damaged, paddy fields as well as irrigation tanks are flooded. 150 people were temporarily displaced but have reportedly returned to their houses
- Due to the absence of drainage at the new ring road, Chenaiyoor is at risk for flooding as water is stagnated
- Nalloor and Neenakerny are affected by the flooding
- The pedestrian bridge between Afa Nagar and Muttur has been washed away which means access is through Thoppur only
- At Killivedy IDP transit site the toilets are flooded
Eachchipampattai:
- Mawadichanai (Verugal GN) approximately 150 displaced (people living in the Tsunami transition shelters)
- The Red Cross is providing assistance to the displaced
Kinniya:
- 14 GN divisions affected, 900 people and 177 families displaced who are staying with family or friends
- Meeting today at 14.00 hrs at the DS Office to discuss, among other issues, the response to the flooding.
- The majority of the displaced are with host families.
- PIN, GTZ, Kinniya Vision and others are providing assistance in Kinniya
Kuchchavelli:
- The Yanoya and Padavaikattu ferries are out of order due to the weather
- 200 acres of paddy land flooded
- Yesterday 25/11 70 families in Cassinmanager were displaced (to family or friends), the situation improved today and most people were able to move back to their houses
- Roads in Kallampattai flooded
Vanni
Increasing water levels due to heavy rains over the past few days, have caused floods in the areas of Vaddakkachchi, Pu'liyampokka'nai, Ka'ndaava'lai, and Chu'ndiku'lam. Two to three reservoirs are at risk of overflowing in the area, which poses threats to populations and displaced settlements in Visuvamadu and Udaiyaarkaddu. Vehicle movement is obstructed by flood waters on the road between Puthukkudiyiruppu [PTK] and Tharmapuram. The status of the road between Palyiankulam and Nadunkerni is currently being assessed. People affected by floods are being temporarily accommodated at schools and other buildings. All schools have been temporarily closed.
Bad road conditions are also likely to affect the movement of weekly humanitarian convoys. The last Government Agent (GA) convoy turned back yesterday due to the condition of the roads. The next UN convoy is tentatively scheduled for 1 / 2 December.