UN OCHA Flood Situation Report Sri Lanka 2010

Sri Lanka • Flood Update Situation Report # 3 Date: 8 December 2010 – Colombo

I. HIGHLIGHTS / KEY PRIORITIES • According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and local authorities, as of 8 December 1200hrs, a total of 105,974 persons (26,825 families) were affected by heavy rains and floods across the country, including 94,883 persons (25,460 families) in the northern region.

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Some roads are interrupted, cutting off assistance to population in the five northern districts. Government Agents are coordinating response efforts.

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As at 8 December 2010, the sluice gates of several reservoirs were opened as in view of exceptionally high levels of water, the highest recorded in the last 11 years.

II. Situation Overview

Heavy rainfall continues in several parts of the island since 10 November 2010, with a total of 105,974 persons affected by floods and landslides, including 4 deaths, 1 missing and 8 injured as at 8 December 2010. Since last week, four new districts were added to the list of those affected ‐ Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Hambantota and Kalutara. Due to the rapidly changing situation, this report includes information available at the time of reporting.

Sluice gates of the following reservoirs were opened to diminish the water level: District Anuradhapura Nuwara Eliya Kandy Matale Hambantota Monaragala Kilinochchi

Reservoir Rajanganaya and Nachchaduwa Rantabe, Randenigala, Kotmale and Victoria Polgolla Dewahoowa, Bowatenna and Wamadilla Lunugamwehera, Weerawila, Yoda wewa and Tissa Wewa Weheragala Iranamadu

III. Northern Overview

Of special concern is the situation in the Northern Province where unprecedented rains have caused extensive flooding during the last week. According to information provided on 8 December by local authorities and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) the total affected population across the five districts amounts to approximately 94,883 persons/25,460 families. Below the breakdown by district:

Persons affected and displaced due to floods: Northern Province District

Affected Families Vavuniya 1,239 Jaffna 4,598 Killinochchi 5,628 Mannar 8,471 Mullaitivu *5,224 TOTAL 25,460 *Note: Source: Government Agent, Mullaitivu.

Displaced Persons 4,785 15,770 21,564 35,773 *16,991 94,883

Families n/a 683 998 0 n/a 1,681

Persons n/a 2,423 3,745 0 n/a 6,168

IDP camps / locations n/a 15 20 0 n/a 35

Several roads have been interrupted or damaged and access to some locations is difficult. In some areas the roads are now passable only with 4 wheel/off road vehicles. In Jaffna District, the main causeway from Jaffna to Kayts through the Pannai bridge route was flooded. The Road Development Authority (RDA) fortified with sand the main roads in Velanai DSD (Pannai to Kayts Road) Chavakachcheri DSD which were interrupted for traffic on 5 December and are now re‐opened. The Kokavil – Tunukkai road and Akkarayankulam‐ Tunukkai road (Mullaitivu district), Tirumurukandi – Jeyapuram (Trincomalee district), are not passable as shoe culvert are under water. Most of the other bi/interior roads are also not motorable.

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

Due to opening of the Iranaimadu sluice gates in Killinochchi several villages have been affected. As a result, high levels of water in Maruthankerny DSD (Jaffna district) have been reported. As the main access road to Maruthankerny has been flooded, essential items are transported by boat for the 6,000 resettled people who are cut off from regular supplies.

According to the DMC, the sluice gates of the Iranamadu tank will be open for another eight days as water levels are very high. This may cause further flooding in the area.

In Vavuniya Rajendakulam GN division two tank bunds of Iththikkulam and Ponnawarasankulam broke and caused flooding and displacement of population. Local farmer organizations have since repaired them.

In Mannar District, all broken tank bunds have been repaired by the government through relevant departments and DMC. In Periyakadai Mannar Division, a house collapsed due to stagnated water and three inhabitants were transferred to Kandy hospital for treatment for serious head injuries.

Humanitarian Needs and Response Between 10 November and 8 December 2010, the Ministry of Disaster Management released a total of Rupees 42.1 million to local authorities for food assistance, across the country.

Government allocation for food assistance to flood affected districts

Across the north, local authorities called for coordination meetings at district levels to share information about the situation and requested support to partners.

Jaffna The GA has requested the District Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) to submit information on the situation and needs to DMC for coordination of response. OCHA is supporting the GA‐led coordination efforts. The GA further instructed the DSDs to take precautionary measures such as cutting trees/branches that may be hazardous, cleaning drainage/water channels, etc. to avoid future damage due to floods/cyclones.

Local authorities provided cooked meals to all the affected families in welfare camps. Furthermore, the GA requested assistance to partners for shelter, Non‐food Relief Items (NFRIs) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). This includes the group of 130 Muslim families who have recently resettled in Jaffna. Those who did not yet receive the resettlement NFRI kits will be assisted. Tamil Relief Rehabilitation Organization (TRRO) will provide 200 tarpaulins to Sandilipay Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD) and Social Organisation Networking for Development (SOND) committed 100 tarpaulins to Chankanai DSD. Should the flood situation persist in Marutankerny, the Government Agent (GA) will appeal to the Sri Lanka army for support to deliver essential assistance to the recently resettled population.

Killinochchi In response to a GA request, agencies provided shelter, NFRI and WASH assistance, including 550 tarpaulins for roofing, floor and side covers, 884 plastic cans and other NFRI by IOM, 480 tarpaulins by UNHCR (300 in Kandavalai DSD, 100 in Karachchi The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

DSD and 180 in Poonakary DSD), in the Poonakary DSD 200 plastic sheeting together with NFRI, 200 collapsible jerry cans and 30,000 water purification tablets by MSF‐ Holland. ZOA provided 20 tarpaulins and 15 roofing sheets, and 50 cadjan by DRC for flood affected population in Karachchi DSD. Save the Children distributed 1,000 bed sheets and 1,500 mats, 800 tarpaulins, 100 mosquito nets and 50 hurricane lamps. UNICEF will be providing 10 tanks of 5,000 litre capacity, 5 tanks of 1,000 litre capacity, 663 mats and 2,000 bottles of water with Mine Risk Education (MRE) messages. UNICEF has committed 500 hygiene kits for those affected as well.

With the rising floodwaters the risk of dengue prevails and the health authorities have taken measures to fog the mosquito breeding sites. They have further advised agencies not to provide untreated mosquito nets in order to mitigate the risks.

Mannar DMC Mannar received Rs. 1.9 million from the MDM for emergency response. Affected people were assisted with cooked meals for three days. Dry rations are also to be issued for one week to livelihood‐affected persons.

Home gardens and other food crops were destroyed due to heavy flow of water from broken tank bunds. Arrangements have been made to drain out flood water by cleaning drainage system blocks. DMC issued seven water pumps to dry up stagnated water pools.

The Mannar DMC Coordinator requested assistance for shelter material (2,341 tarpaulin sheets) to cover roofs and floors; potable water due to the inaccessibility of bowsers and contamination of wells in affected areas; mobile clinics due to lack of access to hospitals and transport facilities, as well as first aid and hygiene kits, mosquito nets to prevent any outbreak of disease. DMC also requested kerosene stoves for cooking, as people are unable to collect firewood. It is anticipated that, should bad weather persist, there will be a further need for dry rations. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) issued 36 tarpaulins to affected communities. ZOA issued two temporary shelters. UNHCR has informed the GA of the availability of 500 numbers each of plastic sheeting and mosquito nets, 300 hygiene kits, 200 hurricane lamps and 1,000 poly sacks in stock to be utilized upon request.

Regular MRE is also a requirement for affected communities due to possible dislocation of mines by rains and exposure.

Return convoys to the area will be postponed during heavy rains.

Mullaitivu In response to the GA’s call for assistance, some shelter materials and NFRIs were distributed. UNICEF provided 500 tarpaulins and 1,000 (3 piece) cooking pots for those affected. More needs however have been recorded.

Vavuniya Conditions in some zones of Menik Farm camp – where the total population now stands at approximately 20,000 persons ‐ have deteriorated, with Zones 1 being the worst affected. Four blocks have been flooded, and four shelters have been damaged by strong winds in another block. Rising ground water levels have placed the camps water and sanitation infrastructure under pressure and overwhelmed the drainage system. Overflowing sewage from the toilet blocks and stagnant pools of water contaminated by faecal matter presented another serious health issue. Consequent to this, the frequency of the gully emptier has been increased by five days a week as opposed to three times a week. Furthermore, in response to authorities’ requests, the SLRC issued 50 tarpaulins to affected populations and DRC will issue mamoties for drainage in camps. UNICEF will provide 500 hygiene kits and water purification tablets each as per other requirements highlighted such as mosquito nets to prevent the threat of dengue and hygiene kits.

Colombo: Ms Barbara Manzi Head of Office manzi@un.org Tel: +94 011 2504 434/5 Ext. 109 Mobile: +94(0) 77 323 7519 Fax: +94 011 4528 690 New York: Mr. Masaki Watabe Humanitarian Affairs Officer – Asia and the Pacific Section watabem@un.org Tel: +1 917 367 2832 Mobile: +1 917 324 8379

Geneva:

Mr. Anvar Munavvarov Humanitarian Affairs Officer munavvarov@un.org Tel: +41 22 917 2732 Mobile: +41 79 602 3598

For more information, please visit: www.hpsl.lk | http://ochaline.un.org/srilanka The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

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The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.