This report was issued by OCHA Sri Lanka and has been compiled with contributions from the Disaster Management Centre, UNOPS and the UN OCHA Field Office in Vavuniya. It covers the period from 15 to 17 August 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 21 August.
I. HIGHLIGHTS / KEY PRIORITIES
- Flash floods were experienced in several areas of Vavuniya District and in Menik Farm due to heavy rains over the weekend. Zone 4 in Menik Farm is the most seriously affected with initial estimates of up to 1,925 shelters being damaged or destroyed.
- Government authorities at Menik Farm have confirmed that the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to the Mannar and Jaffna Districts is being accelerated in response to the worsening weather conditions. Camp officials are currently identifying and registering families to be returned to their homes in the above mentioned districts.
- On 17 August, Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Relief Services, Mahinda Samarasinghe visited Kalutara District to assess the impact of flash floods over the weekend. He has issued an urgent appeal for dry rations to cover the emergency food needs of an estimated 4,000 families affected by the floods in both Kalutara and Ratnapura districts.
II. Situation Overview
Inclement weather during the last 72 hours has resulted in sudden floods in the Vavuniya, Ratnapura and Kalutara districts. Initial reports from the Disaster Management Centre (Ministry of Human Rights and Disaster Relief Services), OCHA Field Offices and humanitarian partners indicate the following situation in the affected areas:
Vavuniya
Conditions in some zones of Menik Farm have deteriorated, with Zones 4 and 2 being the worst affected. Zone 4 is completely inundated and has sustained the most damage. Initial estimates suggest that a total of 1,925 shelters (Sector B: 328 shelters; Sector C: 471 shelters; Sector D: 665 shelters; and Sector E: 461 shelters) in Zone 4 may have been damaged or destroyed as result of the heavy rains. There is considerable flooding in Zone 2 as well, particularly in Blocks 37 and 42. In Zone 2, a total of 450 families are reportedly affected.
Military personnel and camp dwellers had made early attempts to prevent tents being destroyed by dismantling them. Some IDPs had even resorted to piling up soil in order to raise the level of the land and set up their tents on a higher 'platform.' However, humanitarian partners on the ground believe that the weekend's rains do not signal the arrival of the north-east monsoon, but are sporadic showers of 3-4 days duration prevalent in the last quarter of the year. UNHCR has advised camp authorities to prevent the removal of tents. Government officials state that relocating IDPs to public spaces is a last resort. IDPs are instead being directed to seek shelter in the Temporary Learning Centres in Zones 2 and 4. Several district schools are currently unavailable for this purpose, as they are serving as examination centres for the ongoing General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) examinations.
Zones 0 and 1 experienced some flooding, which has now receded, and are almost back to normal. Zone 3 is relatively less affected. Conditions in Zone 5 are unknown. There are no updates on the conditions of the smaller sites.
The heavy rains have placed WASH facilities under pressure. In Zone 2, 95 toilets are under water, with sewage mixed with the storm water. The water here is stagnant and contaminated with fecal matter. Further, the soakage pits attached to some toilets have collapsed completely (particularly in Block 13). Agencies have been urged to complete on-site drainage since it is crucial to ensure the flow of rain water, reducing the risk of site inundation
