Urgent relief for flood-hit areas

COLOMBO: The Disaster Relief Services Ministry has arranged to provide urgent relief to people displaced by earthslips in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Badulla districts and floods in the Ampara, Moneragala and Hambantota districts by releasing funds to the District Secretaries, Minister Ameer Ali said.

Under this programme implemented on the directives of President Mahinda Rajapaksa Rs. 5 million has been already released to the District Secretaries to provide quick relief to the affected people, the Minister said.

He said Rs. 1 million each had been sent to Hambantota, Ampara and Moneragala districts and Rs. 2 million to the Nuwara Eliya district.

The Disaster Relief Services Ministry in a release said nearly 88,949 people belonging to 20,049 families had been displaced by floods and earthslips following heavy rains during the last few days.

The Ministry had taken steps to evacuate affected people to safer locations and provide them with lodging, cooked meals and essential food items. Eighteen people have died in earthslips and the Ministry has provided Rs. 240,000 to the bereaved families for funeral expenses. The worst damage from earthslips had been reported from Walapone, Hanguranketha and Nuwara Eliya areas.

People displaced by earthslips and floods have been housed in 80 temporary camps, according to reports reaching the Ministry. Reports said 253 houses had been totally damaged and 1,259 houses partially damaged in earthslips and floods.

The Ministry had taken steps to despatch essential goods to the displaced, including sanitary equipment, clothing, bottled water, milk food and tents.

Meanwhile, Disaster Relief Services Minister Ameer Ali who visited earthslip and flood affected areas on a fact-finding tour was due to chair a special meeting at the Walapone District Secretariat yesterday afternoon to plan welfare services to the affected people.