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Foreign donations flowing in for flood victims

by Nadira Gunatilleke

Foreign donations are now flowing into the country in response to the request made by the Sri Lankan Government asking for assistance in order to help the flood victims, Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Ms. Vijayalakshmi Jegarasasingam said.

She said that the People's Republic of China has made a cash donation of US $ 30,000 while the Indian Government has donated several food items. Germany has donated 1,125 Kgs of baby food and medicine. Thailand has donated about 500 tons of relief supplies while Japan has donated rice, biscuits and survival crackers. Oman has donated 17 boxes of milk powder, biscuits, rice, noodles, wheat flour and milk tins.

Singapore has donated cash and biscuits, 10 boxes of blankets, two boxes of noodles and two boxes of plastic plates and cups.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR has donated items worth US $ 225,000. UNICEF has donated bottled water, mats, aluminium cooking pots, plastic buckets, school kits and drugs. The WFP has donated rice, pulses, canned fish and sugar while the Save the Children Organisation has donated relief assistance to children worth Rs.2.5 million. Red Cross China has made a cash donation of US $ 30,000.

The Japanese Embassy has donated items worth 19.8 million Yen. The German Embassy has donated four water purification plants, one laboratory for water testing, two rubber boats with motors, one specialized truck, one special 4WD Landrover, one special generator on a trailer, pumps, laboratory equipment, chemicals for treatment of drinking water, houses, small generators and tools.

The Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd has made a cash donation of Rs.2 million while the Sri Lanka Distilleries Company and Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) Ltd has donated Rs. 1 million each.

In the Ratnapura district 1,384 people are still living in seven temporary camps while in the Matara District, 6,784 people are living in 24 camps. In the Galle district, 257 people are living in one camp. The Department of Social Services has already allocated Rs. 28.29 million to provide emergency relief. According to the latest reports 145,891 families have been affected while 248 have been reported dead due to the floods more than 9,970 houses have been completely damaged while 30,768 houses have been partially damaged.

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