S.E. Sri Lanka Floods worsten....

Update from Kalmunai-Ampara 12.01.2011

January 12th, 2011 | Author: richkalmunai

The heavy rainfall is still on …………………!

The meteorological department forecast that thundershower may continue for some more days in the Eastern province of Srilanka. If this condition goes on like this, the devastation may be worse and serious.

In Ampara district Neelavanai, Pandiruppu, Kalmunai, Karaitivu, malikaikadu, Akkaraipatru, Thirukovil, Nintavur, Sammanthurai and Navithanveli are affected completely by the flood. Some of these areas are completely isolated from the main land.

Due to the flooding in Batticaloa district, six hospitals have been closed temporarily and the patients were transferred to the teaching hospital in Batticaloa town. Emergency medical camps are set up in main cities.

In the Eastern province it is reported that there were 15 deaths with no causes to be found. The recent cold climate due to the raining causes the elders and infants to fall in ill.

The health care people are on the ready to face the after effects of the flood in the areas.

Since the artery of transportation was affected by the heavy rain, flood people are struggling without any immediate essentials such as food, medicine, drinking water, sleeping materials etc.

Efforts are underway to provide relief to the needy people. Disaster Management Unit of the Government is taking necessary actions to settle the compensations for the families who lost their members to this flood and to those whose houses badly damaged. Food and medicines have also been sent to relief camps in the Eastern province from Colombo. But this effort makes delay and or unsuccessful due to the blockage in transportation from Colombo or surrounded area of Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

Most of the reservoirs are merged with water and therefore the people living around these areas are being evacuated to safe places. Opening of the sky-doors of these reservoirs may cause flooding in the adjacent regions in Ampara and Batticaloa districts.

In Kalmunai Education Zone alone, about 10000 students are affected.

As of today there are more than 315000 of 81600 families affected and most of these people are in relief camps and or with their relatives or friends.

Villages near the lagoon, river or tanks were completely flooded and the residents have displaced. Blockage in the transportation causes difficulties in displacing.

People in these flood affected regions are facing severe problems in lavatory facilities and getting drinking water.
Displaced settled in schools where the lavatory and shelter facilities are insufficient and relief is yet to arrive.
Most of the paddy land and cattle and poultry farms are badly affected in Ampara district.

Thuravanthiyamedu, a village in Kalmunai is completely isolated from the main land and 210 of 53 families were brought in boats by the Special Task Forces of the Police.

Some fishermen from Periya Neelavanai of Kalmunai who went fishing had gone missing. Two of them were rescued but one was dead.

As there is a lack of provisions in the local shops, people are suffering to get on with their regular living.
Rose affected by the flood!

The Dominos preschool of RCSL and ELI in Kalmunai are completely flooded and there are damages to the furniture and books and office materials.

All the Rose preschools and properties in Neelavanai, Veeramunai, Annamalai, Karaitivu, Chalambaikerni, Veeracholai and 10^th Colony are completely or partially affected by the flood. These preschool functions are on halt until further notice.

The library run by the Rose Children’s Clubs in Annamalai was flooded with furniture and books lost.
The Rose Community Centre in Navithanveli is under flood waters.
Due to the flooding in the Kalmunai office, the regular functions of RCSL have been disabled.

Officials from RCSL have visited some of the relief camps in Kalmunai and Karaitivu to get details of the affected and their immediate needs. Field staffs are working with the government and non-government organizations too.