Sri Lanka Floods Dec 1994 UN DHA Information Report 1

DHA-GENEVA 94/0509

SRI LANKA - FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
1 DECEMBER 1994

SITUATION

1. HEAVY RAINS BROUGHT BY NORTHEAST MONSOON HIT EASTERN SRILANKA 27-28 NOVEMBER, CAUSING WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS OF BATTICALOA AND TRINCOMALEE.

2. 83,130 FAMILIES IN BATTICALOA AND 12,500 IN TRINCOMALEE HOMELESS AND TEMPORARILY SHELTERED IN SCHOOLS AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. DAMAGE TO OTHER DISTRICTS STILL TO BE CLARIFIED.

3. ROADS/RAILWAYS BADLY DAMAGED. MAJOR WATER RESERVOIRS/TANKSFULL AND GATES HAVE BEEN OPENED TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THESE FACILITIES.

4. NAVY AND POLICE TEAMS ASSISTED BY VOLUNTEERS AND NGO'S EVACUATING PEOPLE STRANDED BY FLOODS. COOKED MEALS BEING PROVIDED TO VICTIMS. GOVT HAS RELEASED USD 122,450 TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AND USD 106,120 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR REHABILITATION.

5. GOVT ASSESSING SITUATION AND TO DATE HAS NOT APPEALED FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. UNDMT ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. UNDP/DHA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH GOVT.

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