Sri Lanka: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0220
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Sri Lanka - Floods

This situation report is based on information received from the OCHA Office in Sri Lanka.

Situation

1. As a result of the inter-monsoon rains combined with storms several areas of Sri Lanka have flooded. As of 1 November, the Disaster Management Centre reported that 25 people had been killed, two had been injured and about 333,000 people had been affected.

National and International Response

2. The Ministry of Disaster Relief Services provided a list of items needed to assist the affected population. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) also provided a list of additional requirements for Colombo, Gampaha, Puttlam and Kulutara districts. These were reviewed by the humanitarian community and successfully provided.

3. In Kalutara, IOM is coordinating efforts with the Government Agent (GA) and is ready to assist with Water and Sanitation kits, non-food relief items and shelter if required. IOM together with the Kalutara GA is coordinating ongoing assessment to determine damage to property.

4. UNICEF stands ready to immediately provide 6,000 sets of kitchen utensils, 3,000 sleeping mats, 200 water tanks, 10,000 bed sheets, 10,000 towels and 10,000 bars of soap. UNICEF, if needed, will also procure septic tank cleaning equipment such as gully suckers, water pumps, wheelbarrows, shovels and mammoties.

5. UNHCR is able to immediately provide 3,400 sets of kitchen utensils, 3,400 plastic mats, 3,400 bed sheets, 3,400 towels and 6,800 bars of soap. In addition UNHCR has in stock 5,000 mammoties.

6. The Government of Sri Lanka is organizing the assessment for the next stage, which will concentrate on flood mitigation. On 1 November, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights organized a meeting with stakeholders to prepare the assessment of worst affected areas and develop mitigation plans on floods.

7. UN agencies, under the leadership of UNDP, will be part of the multi-sectoral teams that will be sent to the field on 8 November. Meanwhile, UNDP is committed to secure USD 100,000 for mitigation of floods and liases with the DMC.

8. As the relief phase is practically over, this is the last situation report on the flood in Sri Lanka provided by OCHA. This situation report, together with additional information on other ongoing emergencies, is also available on http://www.reliefweb.int.

Tel.: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:

(GVA) Ms. Paola Emerson, direct Tel. +41-22-917 1613
Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa, direct Tel. +41-22-917 4032

(N.Y.) Mr. Wojtek Wilk, direct Tel. +1-917-367 9748

Press contact:

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126