'Half
a million flee homes' as Sri Lanka grapples with deadly floods,
landslides
PHOTO: Sri
Lankan residents walk through floodwaters in Kaduwela,
Colombo. (Lakruwan
Wanniarachchi: AFP
Severe
flooding in Sri Lanka has forced half a million people to flee their
homes across the island nation, officials say, as the death toll from
days of torrential rain and landslides rose to more than 60.
The
toll is likely to rise sharply as authorities battling muddy
conditions begin to give up hope of reaching 132 people believed to
be trapped under the landslides.
"I
don't think there will be any survivors," Major General Sudantha
Ranasinghe, the officer in charge of the rescue operation, told
Reuters.
"There
are places where the mud level is up to 9 metres. We will keep going
until we can recover the maximum."
The
heaviest rains in a quarter of a century have pounded Sri Lanka since
last weekend, ahead of the arrival of the south-west monsoon.
The
worst-hit areas were in Colombo's north-eastern suburbs along the
Kelani river, which began bursting its banks on Thursday evening.
Three
people have been killed in flood-related incidents in Colombo but the
national toll now stands at 64 dead and 29 injured.
The
district of Kegalle, about 100 kilometres north-east of the capital,
has been worst-hit, with the toll from two separate landslides rising
to 34.
Sri Lanka seeks 'help for victims'
President
Maithripala Sirisena urged people to provide shelter and donate cash
or food as offers of assistance came in from overseas.
"We
have already got some assistance from our friends in the
international community," he said in a televised address.
"Now
I want to ask private individuals, companies and non-governmental
organisations to help in anyway you can to help the victims."
The
national Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said 21 of Sri Lanka's 25
districts had been affected by flooding.
Around
300,000 people had been moved to shelters while a further 200,000
were staying with friends or family.
"Our
information is that about half a million people have been driven out
of their homes," Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told
reporters.
The
DMC said tens of thousands of people in the capital, Colombo, were
evacuated in an operation led by the military, involving boats and
helicopters.
Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said the Government had sought foreign aid in the form of motors, boats and water purifying tablet.
India
said it was sending two naval ships and an aircraft loaded with
emergency supplies, including medicine, tents and mobile toilets.
While we can help we should.
I would like to put a special request out for a country that is special to me - Sri Lanka
Sarvodaya is a very good Sri Lankan-based organisation that is doing excellent work
Sarvodaya Sri Lanka Flood and Landslide Relief
What
Can We Do?
The
torrential rains after months of drought has resulted in severe
floods in May of 2016 in almost 19 administrative districts in Sri
Lanka, hampering the lives of hundreds of thousands. The worst
scenario had been the landslides in the mountain regions where still
many lives are unaccounted for.
Sarvodaya
USA's experience with the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka and the 2015
Nepal earthquake has taught us that working with grassroots
organizations can make a critical difference. The best use of
your donation is through people familiar with local needs and
resources.
That's
why Sarvodaya USA is accepting donations for our sister organization
in Sri Lanka, founded by Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne of the Sarvodaya
Shramadana movement of Sri Lanka. Sarvodaya staff and societies
around the country have dedicated their energy to address challenges
and disasters over 50 years of history in Sri Lanka.
Immediately
Mobilizing Relief from 20 District Centers
Sarvodaya,
in partnership with the Voice of Asia Media Network (Siyatha TV and
Siyatha FM) has taken immediate steps to provide relief to the
affected people. Twenty Sarvodaya District Centers are designated for
collection of relief items including water bottles, milk powder, dry
rations, and sanitary items, and the first arrivals are expected by
early morning of Thursday the 19th May.
The
efforts to dispatch the first truck load of potable water to
Pahathgama in Hanwella failed this evening due to inaccessibility of
the site via road. The transitional site has to be reached with 1
kilo meter boat ride after the last point on ground.
Sarvodaya,
along with the Voice of Asia Media Network, appeal the Sri Lankan and
International friends to join with them at this difficult times of
floods 2016.
Providing
relief --food, water, medical treatment and shelter -- is extremely
challenging. Effective long-term reconstruction and support will
require a competent, thoughtful approach.
_____________________________________________________________
Please donate
now to help community-led relief and recovery efforts. Every
dollar helps Sri Lankans rebuild Sri Lankan. Your support goes
directly towards families and communities affected by this tragedy.
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