• Monsoon Flood Update Situation Report 09 Date: 4 February 2011 –

I. HIGHLIGHTS / KEY PRIORITIES • The Eastern, Northern and North‐Central Provinces have been hit by fresh floods caused by torrential rains which obliged authorities to open the sluice gates of water reservoirs. Despite the precautions taken by the irrigation department, water continues to spill over from tanks across the provinces. Contrary to flooding experienced in mid‐January, this time, the water is rapidly rising and strong currents wash away anything that is in its path. Many towns are submerged and access roads to the provinces continue to be flooded. • According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), as of 1030hrs on 4 February, a total 236,894 people (62,706 families) have been affected, mainly in Trincomalee (94,624 people), (43,741 persons), (44,725 persons) Vavuniya (29,419), Polonnaruwa (11,276) and (4,233 persons) districts. Five deaths, 4 injured and 2 missing persons are recorded. • A total of 82,660 persons (23,123 families) have been displaced in 322 temporary evacuation centres in 11 districts across the island. The highest displacement has been recorded in the Trincomalee (42,175), Batticaloa (17,503), Polonnaruwa (11,051) and Ampara (7,940) districts. In , due to the overflowing of the Kallaru river, IDPs from Zone 0 and 1 in Menik Farm camps are being relocated (numbers are not available at this point). This is in addition to another 3,260 persons displaced within the district. • By 3 February 2010, US$ 11.6 million has been received towards the flood response, including US$ 7.7 million mobilized through the Flash Appeal launched on 18 January.

II. Situation Overview

The situation in the Eastern, North and North‐Central Provinces is serious as monsoon rains continue. Floods are wide spread and are flowing over roads, agricultural lands and town centres. The accumulation of the rains that began in December is being felt as people continue to be displaced, many staying with friends and families, and damages to homes and already saturated farm lands continue. Many areas are inaccessible and thus the extent of damage and situation is still unknown. The following is a summary of verified information.

On 3 February, Polonnaruwa received the heaviest rainfall (232.4mm), followed by Trincomalee (156.1mm), Vavuniya (133.2mm), Anuradhapura (114.4mm) Batticaloa (84.7mm) districts, while on 2 February, received the heaviest rainfall (187.9mm), followed by Trincomalee (161.4mm), Polonnaruwa (151.9) and Ampara (104.1mm) districts. Forecasts predict continued rains for the East, North, North‐Central, Central and Uva Provinces.

A total of 82,660 persons (23,123 families) have been displaced in 322 temporary evacuation centres in 11 districts across the island. The highest displacement has been recorded in the Trincomalee (42,175), Batticaloa (17,503), Polonnaruwa (11,051) and Ampara (7,940) districts. On 3 February, the spilling and opening of sluice gates of the Kawudulu Oya has submerged the Medirigiriya town in the including surrounding areas. Many areas in the has also reported flooding due to the opening of Yan Oya, Kalawewa and other reservoirs hampering access on the A9 towards Medawachchiya, North and access routes to the coupled with the opening of Kantale sluice gates. Local authorities warned communities to move to safer areas as 18 of the 22 reservoirs in began to overflow on 2 February. The largest reservoir in Sri Lanka, the Senanayaka Samudraya (also called the Inginiyagala reservoir) has reached 90% of its capacity, and the gates have been opened for the first time in 16 years. On 2 February irrigation officials opened five of the reservoir’s six spill gates (one is broken) in a bid to reduce water levels, unsuccessfully, as the water continue to rise and spill over the dam. The water flow affected both Batticaloa and Ampara district, especially but not only, along the coastal belt, where communities have already taken shelter in local mosques and other public buildings. Schools in affected areas have been closed. Moreover concerns are raised about floods in Damana, Deegavaapi, Irakkamam, Kallar and communities. Ampara and Batticaloa town are also affected by the raising water flow and the continuous rains.

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.

Spill gates of the following reservoirs were opened to diminish the water level District Reservoir Anuradhapura Rajanganaya, Kalawewa, Yan Oya, Malwathu Oya, Nachchaduwa and Padaviya Ampara Senanayaka Samudraya (Inginiyagala tank) and Maduru Oya Hambanthota Lunugamvehera Kandy Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe Kurunegala Inginimitiya Moneragala Weharagala Nuwara Eliya Kotmale Polonnaruwa Parakrama Samudraya, Kawudulu Oya, Girithale,

In Ampara, a total 43,741 people (11,347 families) across 180 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions have been affected by floods caused by continuous rains and spillover from the irrigation network. Around 7,940 people (2,107 families) among those affected have been displaced to temporary evacuation centres, while another 3,817 persons (995 families) have taken shelter with relatives and friends. The Ampara District has become inaccessible through the Inginiyagala, Mahaoya and Randenigala routes, which have been submerged. The A4 and A5 routes to the district have also been cut off. Access to Ampara is reportedly only possible via the Siyabalanduwa road from Ratnapura.

Due to heavy rains in Vavuniya District, flooding has been reported in Zones 0 and 1 in Menik Farm camp in Cheddikulam DSD. IDPs are being moved within the zones to safety by the authorities with the assistance of agencies. Authorities further report that approximately 3,260 persons (776 families) have been displaced to evacuation centres in Vavuniya Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD), and another 2,836 persons (706 families) in Cheddikulam DSD.

A total of 4,734 houses (819 fully and 3,915 partially) have been damaged in 8 districts. In the Central Province, the National Building Research Organization has issued landslide warnings for Matale, Kandy, Badulla and Nuwara‐Eliya districts. In the Central and North‐Central provinces some school are closed due to landslide threats or inclement weather conditions.

III. Humanitarian response In Batticaloa District, on 3 February, the Deputy Minister of Resettlement, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, and the Batticaloa Government Agent (GA) have requested UN and NGO support to provide urgent relief to people in 31 temporary evacuation centres in 10 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. In a separate meeting, the Ampara GA informed of urgent need for shelter materials and NFI.

Shelter In support to a Government appeal, UNHCR will provide 400 tents from existing stocks, to be distributed through DMC. Repairs to shelters and well cleaning will be required in the medium‐term when the situation returns to normal. IOM is procuring 5,000 each of plastic sheets and tarpaulins for flood‐affected communities in Batticaloa as well as 4,000 each of the same items for Ampara district. Bed sheets and blankets are needed in Batticaloa. The GA highlighted that cold temperatures caused several fatalities, particularly among elderly persons, during the last flood displacement.

In Vavuniya District, the GA appealed for distribution of plastic sheeting to 72 displaced families in Thirunavakulam village, Thandikkulam GN, currently displaced in the village common hall. UNHCR is liaising with local authorities to determine exact assistance needed for an additional 223 IDPs families in Maharambaikulam, Mathinanagar GN.

Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods: WFP has dispatched 508 metric tons of dry food rations to Batticaloa (sufficient for about 180,000 persons), Ampara (58,000 persons) and Trincomalee (30,000 persons) districts. CARE, Sarvodaya, UMCOR, World Vision, ZOA and other agencies have agreed to provide two‐day cooked meals for people in temporary evacuation centres in Batticaloa. In Ampara, the Government is currently able to cater for food needs (cooked meals) of those displaced in temporary evacuation centres. Escalating food prices in the wake of crop losses have heightened the vulnerability of flood‐ affected communities.

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. 2

In Vavuniya District, SLRC is providing cooked meals to 250 displaced families in the Cheddikulam Divisional Secretariat Division.

In a communication received earlier in the week, the Ministry of Agriculture has requested FAO assistance to cultivate about 75% of the total crop land destroyed by floods, during the next 2011 Yala planting season. The remainder will be placed under cultivation in the 2011/2012 Maha season. The note indicates that, in Ampara District alone, 53,464 hectares of paddy were devastated. As more floods occurred in the last 24hrs, the figure is now much higher, and the Ampara GA estimates that now up to 25% of the total paddy production, or 50% of the acreage cultivated is lost. The Ministry has highlighted the need for seed supplies, assistance in land preparation and farming equipment (sprayers, water pumps, herbicides, fungicides and barbed wire).

100% Damaged Extent (Hectares) Province Paddy OFC Vegetables Fruits

Eastern Province 53,464 3,684.4 535 149.4 Northern Province 3,474 2,604.3 278.75 28.3 North Central Province 6,396 21,010.7 1,270.15 349.3 North Western Province 1,596 391.2 309 34.7 Central Province 1,381 60 480 Uwa Province 177 185 8 Southern Province 150 40 40 Grand Total 71,458 27,975.6 2,920.9 564.62

Colombo: Ms Barbara Manzi Ms Carrie Howard Head of Office Information officer [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +94 011 2504 434/5; Fax: +94 011 4528 690 Tel: +94 772858946 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. 3

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. 4