More WFP help for flood affected

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is scaling up emergency food assistance to about 500,000 people that have been hardest hit by a second wave of flooding within a month.

Sustained rains over the past week throughout the Eastern, North and North-Central Provinces have forced over 180,000 people from their homes and caused major damage to food crops. Most of the displaced people are now housed in around 500 temporary shelters in 13 districts.

”The WFP is providing food to help those affected by floods cope with their immediate nutritional needs,” said WFP Sri Lanka Country Director Adnan Khan. “Given the extent of damage to food crops, we are also planning longer term assistance to help people restart their lives and cover serious gaps in household food supplies in the weeks and months ahead.”