The heavy rains experienced over the last few days resulting in severe flooding has displaced thousands of people in Galle, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Colombo kalutara and Kegalle districts. Official figures state that over 253,000 people are affected with 19 deaths as a result of the flooding.
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has responded by providing cooked food, bottled water and non food relief items including sleeping mats to people affected by the heavy rains. Many areas are cut off with very limited access through boats. By Sunday night several dwelling in the poorest areas were completely submerged; their meager earnings and livelihoods completely destroyed.
Hundreds of people in many areas have gathered in public places like temples and are dependent on Red Cross volunteers for essential help. The Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteers have been providing cooked food, water and first aid for the last two days.
Since the 1st of June, the Gampaha district alone has provided cooked food to over 7000 people.
However, there is a need to provide assistance even after the water levels recedes for several more days, as a large number of dwellings are completely destroyed and families living in these have no way of fending for themselves for some time. In addition, where there is no running water and wells have been contaminated with no clean water for drinking. Well cleaning as well as provision of water and other recovery programmes will be needed.
The floods have also severely affected the industrial zone that relies on the labour and skills of the people living in these areas. The water safety programme that trained volunteers on "rescue" by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Gampaha Branch has come in as a major asset during this disaster. With the coordination of the Regional Disaster Management center the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society assists in the operation of boats to in ensuring the safety of those traveling in them.
Sri Lanka Red Cross Society branches need urgent funds to respond to continue supporting the most vulnerable during this emergency and appeal to all to provide dry rations as well as monetary assistance. Donations of dry rations including rice, dhal, dry fish, milk powder and sugar can be handed over to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society branches in the affected areas.
Each of the affected area branches of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society conducted early assessments to identify the immediate relief requirements. With the coordination of Disaster Management Department of National Head Quarters, branches have already carried out following relief activities.
Gampaha branch obtained the services of members of BDRT, volunteers and CBDRM staff for relief distribution, evacuation of affected to safe places. Cook food packets, dry rations drinking water bottles, drugs and non- food relief items including mats, hygiene packs soap were distributed during 3 days to families affected in Biyagama Kelaniya,Katana and Wattala Divisions. Provision of first aid was another activity that the branch carried out.
Colombo branch deployed its disaster Response Team of 30 people and sub teams were deployed in Kolonnawa Homagama,Kaduwela and Hanwella Divisional secretariat divisions for need assessments. Food items and dry rations were distributed amongst 600 affected families in Kaduwela and 400 in Homagama. Drinking water, non-food relief items and drugs were distributed to affected families and also provided temporary shelters to displaced families due to flood.
Colombo City branch distributed dry ration packets to affected people in Maligawatta and Mattakkuliya areas in Colombo City limit.
Galle branch distributed lunch and dinner packets drinking water bottles and dry rations to some affected families in Tawalama .Food packets and dry food items were handed over to affected families in Niyagama, Baddegama, Welivitiya Divitura and Elpitiya divisions. The branch also mobilized its volunteers for relief work and deployed first aid teams in flood affected areas. Galle branch contributed to the evacuation efforts by making available two canoes.
Kalutara branch distributed food parcels hygiene packs ,sleeping mats, water bottles and medicinal items. volunteers in divisions of Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala, Dodamgoda, Madurawala, Matugama, Kalutara and Agalawatta helped in relief distribution. To meet the first aid needs of the affected people the branch mobilized trained first aid workers.