24.12.2007
Torrential rains during the weekend have caused a disaster
situation in five districts - Ampara, Matale, Anurdhapura,
Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa displacing several thousand families
and fully destroying or partly damaging hundreds of houses.
Authorities in the affected areas were on high alert Sunday
with the Met Department predicting more heavy showers during
the next 24 hours. Disaster relief service sources said
all measures were in place to help the affected and arrangements
have made to provide temporary shelter and dry rations along
with other necessities through local authorities. There
was widespread damage by Sunday with the North and East
being the worst affected and according to sources a proper
assessment was difficult due to several main roads becoming
impassable due to flooding.
In the Ampara district, more than 5,000 people have been
affected and in Batticaloa 10,000 have been rendered homeless
due to heavy rains and flooding while in the Jaffna peninsula,
around 3,000 have sought help with uncleared Mullaitivu
too being heavily hit with around 4,000 displaced.
The Dambulla town under several feet of water on Saturday,
saw a gradual receding of water levels and according to
sources, the district hospital would commence work in about
five days. All patients have been transferred to other hospitals
in adjoining areas as a temporary measure. The highly active
Dambulla economic centre under three feet of water by Saturday,
would take a few more days to recover, sources said.
According to the sources stocks of medicine at the hospital
and millions worth vegetables and other food stuff at the
economic have been destroyed. Patients in the Dambulla hospital
have been transferred to the Kurunegala and Matale hospitals.
Dr. Sudarshana Abeysekera, director Dambulla hospital said
the equipment would be sterilised and the hospital would
resume work as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, flood levels in the main routes from Dambulla
to Kandy and Kurunegala reportedly caused a heavy traffic
jam over the weekend, with only large vehicles able to wade
through the waters.
Over
18 houses have been destroyed in the area while 60 houses
have been partly destroyed. Two children have had a narrow
escape when they were rescued by a youth while they were
being washed away by the gushing waters.
Widespread damage too has been reported from the Polonnaruwa
district with several main roads being impassable and
a few major tanks overflowing, including the Parakrama
Samudraya, Minneriya and Rotawewa tanks in addition to
a number of other smaller tanks.
The Polonnaruwa-Bakamuna-Mannampitiya main roads are reported
to be under several feet of water making it impassable
for travellers and hampering efforts of relief workers.
In the Anuradhapura area, several tanks are at spill level
including Kalawewa and Nachchaduwa causing unprecedented
damage to cultivations. It is reported that authorities
are helping civilians in the adjoining areas of Kalawewa
to move out on a temporary basis.
Landslide and floods have also been reported from Ratnapura
and Badulla districts.
Government sources said their regional Disaster Management
centres were on high alert 24 hours a day, with the help
of local authorities and Security Forces, to help the
affected. They also added that around 5,500 displaced
families from seven districts had sought temporary shelter
in camps.
According to the Emergency Operation Centre there has
been no deaths or complaints regarding missing people
so far. But there seems to be heavy damage to property
and cultivation.
Government sources said compensation would be provided
to the affected in the near future after making a thorough
assessment.
The Metrological Department said the present whether conditions
would ease off within the next few days. According to
the Department Ratnapura has received the highest rainfall
for the year with 3100.45 mm of rain during the last 24
hours. The Galle district received 3091.2 mm and Colombo
receivied 2084.8 mm of rain.
Meanwhile, the government assured there was no shortage
of funds to provide relief to thousands of flood-affected
people. Secretary to the Ministry of Resettlement, ACM
Razik, said four districts in the north and the east are
badly affected by the floods and that Jaffna, Batticaloa,
Ampara and Polonnaruwa were the worst affected.
The ministry has ordered District and Divisional Secretaries
to provide the IDPs with cooked meal and dry rations,
where relevant, for the next three days.
The Rettlement ministry also pledged to compensate to
those who lost houses and whose houses were partly destroyed.
Over 35,000 families have been affected in Batticaloa
district authorities said, while Batticaloa Aditional
Government Agent (AGA) K Maheshan said at least 4000 families
were displaced though the actual figures are yet to be
estimated,
The Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are in urgent need
of drinking water, bed sheets, mats, milk powder for children
and other essential items, the regional officer said.
The IDP families are kept in 18 centres in the district.
Minister in charge of Disaster Relief and Resettlement,
Risath Badiudeen said the ministry has 'empowered' the
regional authorities to immediately provide essential
supplies.
A circular was issued to all regional secretaries, the
minister said, and disciplinary action will be taken against
those who do not abide by the directive.
Funds will be released as soon as the regional authorities
provide the details of the expenses, the minister added.
Nearly 10,000 people are displaced in Polonnaruwa district,
Government Agent Ranjith Wijethilake said adding that
the IDPs were being provided with cooked meals and dry
rations.
At least 300 people have been rendered homeless due to
the floods in Gal Amuna, Lankapura, journalist Thakshila
Dilrukshi Jayasena who visdited the area said.
The IDPs were provided shelter in Gal Amuna Maha Vidyalaya
by the Divisional Secretary.
20,000 acres of paddy fields were also destroyed due to
floods. Polonnaruwa-Colombo railway line and Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa
main road have also been closed due to the floods Over
400 families were displaced in Anuradhapura district as
Kala Oya overflowed, regional authorities said.
North Western Province Chief Minister, Berty Premalal
Dissanayake, said those displaced are currently settled
in schools and Buddhist temples.
As the rains continues, it is expected that the IDPs will
have to stay in the camps for another few days.
"The government has taken steps to provide food and
essential supplies to the IDPs," the Chief Minister
said.
The worst floods to hit Anuradhapura district, according
to residents, has destroyed at least 300 houses in the
area.
Meanwhile the Badulla - Kandy road was rendered impassable
due to a minor landslide last evening causing heavy damages
to the Malaoya Bridge. Road users have been advised to
take alternative routes via Hunnasgiriya and Walapane.
Courtesy -Southasianmedia
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