Torrential rains in eastern Sri Lanka, three dead and thousands of homes flooded
Colombo (AsiaNews) - The main districts of the Eastern Province in Sri Lanka have been brought to their knees by the torrential rains that have been sweeping the region since December 14. The first report of the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo says that the areas most affected are those of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara. Families affected by the crisis amount to 50 thousand (the homeless are about 300 thousand), three people have died and thousands of homes are over under water.
Caritas Sri Lanka - Sedec is already working to provide relief to victims through its diocesan offices in Batticaloa and Trincomalee. Fr. Piyasiri Damian Fernando, director of the Church's charitable organizations on the island, told AsiaNews that the head office so far has received requests for help from 500 families in the district of Batticaloa.
The magnitude of the emergency changes by the hour and Fr. Fernando says that the organization is trying to actively assist the victims with all available means.
First reports indicate that the rains have affected over 17 divisions in the Batticaloa district and the areas of Vaakarai, Vaazhaichcheanai, Kaaththaankudi and Vavunatheevu are most affected.
The rains have not spared even the temporary transit centres where thousands of refugees from the war are being sheltered. The so-called "welfare village" of the districts of Muthur East, Eechchilampattu and Trincomalee were inundated by water. Several hundred refugees were transferred to Batticaloa to some schools which have offered shelter to some 500 families.
Even the crops were severely damaged. In Serunuwara Division, Trincomalee district, a half square kilometres of area planted with rice is submerged and also in Ampara district many fields are now under water.
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23/08/2019 15:45
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