UN OCHA Monsoon Report January 2011

Sri Lanka • Monsoon Flood Update

Situation Report 03 Date: 12 January 2011 – Colombo

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HIGHLIGHTS / KEY PRIORITIES Rains continue in many parts of the island, causing floods, land and rock slides. According to the Disaster Management 1 Centre (DMC) and local authorities, as of 12 January, a total of 967,115 persons (258,120 families) have been affected , with 18 deaths, two missing and 49 injured. A total of 195,919 persons (52,283 families) are displaced in 493 temporary relocation centers in eight districts. Batticaloa reported the highest number of IDPs (122,047 /32,641 families) housed in 225 temporary relocation centers.

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On 12 January, President Rajapaksa flew to Pollonaruwa district to ascertain flood situation but could not proceed to other affected districts due to bad weather.

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Rapid assessments are underway to determine the extent and location of damages. Inter‐agency missions lead by the DMC and local authorities will identify immediate relief needs. Missions continue to experience constraints due to poor access on flood‐affected roads. Main findings include NFI, dry rations and drinking water needs.

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The 12 January Meteorology Department weather forecast for the next 36 hours says rainy conditions will continue with fairly heavy rains and strong winds at some places in the Eastern, North‐Central, Uva, Northern and Central Provinces and Hambantota District.

Situation Overview

Continuous rains since 26 December 2010 have caused floods, land and rock/mud slides and displacement, mainly in the eastern and central parts of the island (see attached map). The total number of persons affected stands at 967,115 persons including 18 deaths, two missing and 49 injured as at 12 January – 1200 hrs. The torrential rains have caused main roads to be submerged, hence not motorable, reducing access to affected areas (see map in annex). Additionally, heavy rains also resulted in the intermittent opening of sluice gates of tanks (reservoirs). Due to the rapidly changing situation, this report includes information available at the time of reporting.

In Batticaloa, flood extent is grave and normal activities have come to a standstill. Transport and telecommunications are disrupted across the district. Two hundred small and medium tanks (reservoirs) are completely breached and washed away. Most other tanks are spilling over. All schools in the affected areas will remain closed throughout the first week of the new school term, also as most of the displaced are accommodated at these sites. Information is difficult to collect at this stage due to poor access to affected areas.

On 12 January, IOM Ampara reported that rains Affected population due to heavy rains from 26 December 2010 to 11 in the district continue, however less January 2011 accumulation than earlier reported. On 12 January, local authorities in Ampara District evacuated communities near tanks (reservoirs) and high volume irrigation systems into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. Data on the numbers of people evacuated from the locations is not yet available. Several thousand persons are hosted in nearby communities. A total of 1,181 houses are listed as damaged and 286 houses are totally destroyed and uninhabitable in the district.

12 January DMC statistics indicate the majority of flood‐affected persons in the island are from the Eastern Province. The three districts of Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee amounts to 899,939 persons i.e. 93% of the total affected. This is a 5 % reduction since 11 January. (source: DMC Daily Flood Statistics).

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The population affected can be defined as an overall population in a flood affected Grama Niladhari Division (GND) of a District that may be unable to carry out their day to day activities due to the prevailing situation.

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

The seven districts with the highest number of persons affected and displaced due to floods (source: DMC, as of 12 Jan) District Affected Displaced IDP camps / locations Families Persons Families Persons Batticaloa Ampara Trincomalee Polonnaruwa Anuradhapura Matale Kandy TOTAL

143,352 88,376 7,949 2,705 2,793 182 573

533,837 336,470 29,632 10,842 10,887 776 2,196

32,641 7,813 7,949 2,705 751 131 232

122,047 28,744 29,632 10,842 2,829 560 1,027

225 49 89 77 32 6 10

245,930 924,640 52,222 195,681 488

Sluice gates of the following reservoirs were opened to diminish the water level or are at spill level (as of 12 January 2011) District Tanks (reservoirs) Anuradhapura Rajanganaya, Kalawewa, and Padaviya, Nuwara wewa, Malwathu oya, Basawakkulam wewa, Mahavilachchiya wewa, Mahakandara wewa, Tisawewa, Huruluwewa, Nachchaduwa, Polonnaruwa Parakrama Samudraya, Kawudulu Oya, Girithale, Minneriya Kandy Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe Dambulla Kandalama wewa Kurunegala Inginimitiya Nuwara Eliya Kotmale Ampara Maduru Oya Moneragala Weharagala, Katahragama

III. Assessments

On 12 January, DMC shared an updated emergency relief item requirement list with partners. Agencies responding to the DMC requirement list can bring their stocks to the Orugodawatta warehouse [No. 07 Stores, Central Food Stores, Department of Food, Orugodawatta – Welampitiya, Colombo North]. The DMC requests the general public providing assistance to channel their items through the ITN and Rupavahini collection centers.

On 12 January, a inter‐agency needs assessment were carried out in all affected districts under the leadership of DMC with the support of the UN and partners. Findings will be available on 13 January. Findings from assessments will be shared and used to support decision making towards a flood response.

IV. Humanitarian Needs and Response

Search and Rescue: Rescue operations are being carried with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the most flood‐affected areas. Between 10 and 11 January SLAF reported the rescue of over 55 persons stranded in floods. Evacuation in Batticaloa has been difficult due to bad weather.

Food: On 12 January, SLAF airlifted fresh and dry food rations to Batticalao (3.5 MT) and Trincomalee (13MT) from Colombo and Higurakkgoda. ZOA have brought in cooking utensils to Batticaloa to be able to resume communal cooking as soon as the water levels allow for it in the different IDP camp locations and are providing bread. Local authorities continue to provide cooked meals to displaced persons in relocation centers of all the affected districts.

NFI/ Shelter: On 11 January, ZOA committed funds from their own reserves to distribute NFRIs to flood‐affected persons in the East on 12 January. In Trincomalee, Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is providing food and NFIs. The items are being transported by helicopter and shift to Muthur and Vergal in Trincomalee District.

Health:/ WASH Health partners distributed guidelines on infant feeding in emergencies and are providing guidance on focus groups.

Following a regional coordination meeting in the East, the Health Sector has requested water purification tablets, chlorine and water tanks Ampara and Batticaloa. UNICEF is responding to these needs in part and has dispatched seven trucks with water tanks, water purification tablets, chlorine powder and tarpaulins. In Trincomalee, Oxfam has provided chlorine for water purification and 12,000 hygiene kits.

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

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V. Coordination

DMC has requested for a Japanese Satellite (JAXA ALOS Palsar) radar image to support macro‐analysis of flood‐affected areas. On 11 January, the Provincial Director of Health Services met key actors to coordinate response on health related matters. OCHA is compiling daily information from all agencies responding and sharing as required. Focal points have been identified to support the DMC and coordinate operational partners.

Colombo:

Ms Barbara Manzi Head of Office manzi@un.org Tel: +94 011 2504 434/5; Fax: +94 011 4528 690 New York: Geneva:

Mr. Anvar Munavvarov Mr. Masaki Watabe Humanitarian Affairs Officer Humanitarian Affairs Officer – Asia and the Pacific Section munavvarov@un.org watabem@un.org Tel: +1 917 367 2832 Tel: +41 22 917 2732 For more information, please visit: www.hpsl.lk | http://ochaline.un.org/srilanka

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

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 The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

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The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.