Flash floods triggered by torrential rain have affected more than 170,000 people in the war-torn Mannar and Batticaloa districts of Sri Lanka.
Over 50,000 people in Mannar and 120,000 in the eastern Batticaloa District have been affected by flooding caused by heavy rain which also left five dead, the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) said on 19 March.
In Batticaloa rain forced more than 7,000 people from their homes, with some taking shelter in schools and mosques, officials said.
Some of the flood victims were families living in basic camps, who had already been displaced by renewed war between the Government and Liberation Tigers.
“A total of 7,200 people have been displaced in Batticaloa due to the heavy rains,” said Keerthi Ekanayake, national coordinator at the National Disaster Management Centre.
"Of those there are about 600-700 people who were in IDP (internally displaced) camps who were already displaced by battles," he added.
An estimated 5,000 war-displaced are still living in camps in Batticaloa district, waiting to be resettled in areas that are still military high security zones.
The camp conditions are often basic, the sandy soil floors of the shelters sodden during heavy rain, and some families have had to sit on their haunches through the night to avoid lying down in water.
In Mannar, “floods have caused immense damage to affected areas, interrupting all economic and social activities,” the NDRSC stated in a situation report.
“It is also reported that there is tremendous damage to infrastructure facilities in the areas [of Mannar]. About 14,010 families or 54,323 people have been affected.”
Government officials in Mannar told UN news agency, IRIN, they had began distributing relief items and were awaiting assessment reports to decide on additional assistance.
“We started distributing meals almost as soon as the first displacements were reported over the weekend,” A Nicholaspillai, Government Agent for Mannar district told IRIN.
“We have made initial plans to continue the distribution for three days at least,” he added.
The area has witnessed intense clashes between government forces and the Liberation Tigers during the last six months, restricting access to relief agencies.
Continuing clashes between government forces and the LTTE along the line of control in Mannar had already restricted access to the district before the latest flooding.
“Since 4 February, access has been restricted to vehicles north of Madawachchiya checkpoint, creating additional challenges for civilian travel across Mannar District,” the Inter-Agency Standing Committee stated in a situation report released on 15 March.
In January, more than 30,000 people were displaced in the east by monsoon flooding, while in December 175,000 people took refuge in welfare centres and temples in the eastern and central parts of the country following flash floods.
Over 50,000 people in Mannar and 120,000 in the eastern Batticaloa District have been affected by flooding caused by heavy rain which also left five dead, the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) said on 19 March.
In Batticaloa rain forced more than 7,000 people from their homes, with some taking shelter in schools and mosques, officials said.
Some of the flood victims were families living in basic camps, who had already been displaced by renewed war between the Government and Liberation Tigers.
“A total of 7,200 people have been displaced in Batticaloa due to the heavy rains,” said Keerthi Ekanayake, national coordinator at the National Disaster Management Centre.
"Of those there are about 600-700 people who were in IDP (internally displaced) camps who were already displaced by battles," he added.
An estimated 5,000 war-displaced are still living in camps in Batticaloa district, waiting to be resettled in areas that are still military high security zones.
The camp conditions are often basic, the sandy soil floors of the shelters sodden during heavy rain, and some families have had to sit on their haunches through the night to avoid lying down in water.
In Mannar, “floods have caused immense damage to affected areas, interrupting all economic and social activities,” the NDRSC stated in a situation report.
“It is also reported that there is tremendous damage to infrastructure facilities in the areas [of Mannar]. About 14,010 families or 54,323 people have been affected.”
Government officials in Mannar told UN news agency, IRIN, they had began distributing relief items and were awaiting assessment reports to decide on additional assistance.
“We started distributing meals almost as soon as the first displacements were reported over the weekend,” A Nicholaspillai, Government Agent for Mannar district told IRIN.
“We have made initial plans to continue the distribution for three days at least,” he added.
The area has witnessed intense clashes between government forces and the Liberation Tigers during the last six months, restricting access to relief agencies.
Continuing clashes between government forces and the LTTE along the line of control in Mannar had already restricted access to the district before the latest flooding.
“Since 4 February, access has been restricted to vehicles north of Madawachchiya checkpoint, creating additional challenges for civilian travel across Mannar District,” the Inter-Agency Standing Committee stated in a situation report released on 15 March.
In January, more than 30,000 people were displaced in the east by monsoon flooding, while in December 175,000 people took refuge in welfare centres and temples in the eastern and central parts of the country following flash floods.
