Sri Lanka • Monsoon Flood Update Situation Report 10 Date: 5 February 2011 – Colombo I. HIGHLIGHTS / KEY PRIORITIES Heavy rains over the past seven days have caused flooding in 18 districts in the Eastern, Northern, North‐Central, Uva and Southern Provinces. As a result many of tanks (reservoirs) are already or nearly overflowing. Threats to reservoir bunds have compelled authorities to open reservoir sluice gates across the island. Additionally, several roads continue to be inundated with flood waters, challenging government‐led assistance activities. Numbers of affected and displaced persons continues to rise. Aid assistance at this stage is focused on providing clean water, non‐food items (NFIs), basic common shelters and food. According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), as of 12:30hrs on 5 February, a total 984,256 people (295,816 families) have been affected, mainly in Trincomalee (326,638), Batticaloa (225,080), Anuradhapura (200,000), Ampara (98,501) districts. Seven deaths, five injured and two missing persons are reported. Additionally, on 4 February, Vavuniya authorities reported that 62,147 persons (16,032 families) have been affected due to heavy rains over the past three days. A total of 185,820 persons (50,121 families) have been displaced in 543 temporary evacuation centres in 13 districts across the island. The highest displacement has been recorded in the Batticaloa (78,973), Trincomalee (65,688), Polonnaruwa (18,325) and Ampara (14,029) districts. Additionally, Vavuniya authorities reported 24,378 persons (6,451 families) displaced in 78 temporary evacuation centres and 5,939 persons in 17 evacuation centres in the Mannar district. II. Situation Overview The situation in the Eastern, North and North‐Central Provinces is serious as monsoon rains continue. Floods are widespread and water is flowing over roads, agricultural lands and villages and towns. The accumulation of the rains that began in December is being felt as people continue to be displaced, either in welfare centres or with friends and relatives. Damages to homes and already saturated farm lands have increased. Many areas are still inaccessible and thus the extent of the damages are difficult to evaluate. The following is a summary of verified information. On 4 February, Batticaloa received the heaviest rainfall (92.4mm), followed by Badulla (40.9mm), Anuradhapura (40.5mm), Vavuniya (39.9mm), Polonnaruwa (35.7mm) and Trincomalee (26.4mm) districts. These rainfall figures are a slight improvement from those of 3 February reported in the previous situation report [Polonnaruwa received the heaviest rainfall (232.4mm), followed by Trincomalee (156.1mm), Vavuniya (133.2mm), Anuradhapura (114.4mm) and Batticaloa (84.7mm) districts]. The Department of Meteorology forecasts continued showers for the Eastern, Northern, North‐Central, Central, Uva and Southern Provinces and warns of a depression forming in the Eastern Coastal region with a probability of continued heavy rains over the next days. On 5 February, a total of 185,820 persons (50,121) have been displaced in 543 temporary evacuation centres in 13 districts across the island. This is an increase of over 103,000 people from 4 February report. The highest displacement has been recorded in the Batticaloa (78,973), Trincomalee (65,688), Polonnaruwa (18,325) and Ampara (14,029) districts. In addition to this, Vavuniya authorities reported 24,378 persons (6,451 families) displaced in 78 temporary evacuation centres and 5,939 persons in 17 evacuation centres in the Mannar district. Additionally, in Vavuniya, flooding has been reported in Zones 0 and 1 in Menik Farm welfare centre in Cheddikulam DSD. IDPs are being moved within the zones to safety by the authorities with the assistance of agencies. In Trincomalee, information available indicates that some 65% ‐ 70% of the total Trincomalee population is affected by the flood. Muttur, Seruvila, Verugal and Padavi Sri Pura DS divisions are not accessible by road. Authorities are encouraging the affected people to stay with their friends and relatives to avoid crowding of safe locations. On 4 February, the Divisional Secretaries (DSs) of Mullaitivu district reported that many of the recently resettled people living in transitional shelters have been affected by flooding. In addition, several major tanks are overflowing with large amounts of water going through the villages. Many roads in Mullaitivu district are impassable. The GA has identified shelter (tarpaulin/plastic sheeting) and NFIs as urgent needs for those affected. A similar situation is reported by the GA Kilinochchi. Improved shelters, tarpaulins and floor sheeting are urgently required to withstand the continued rains. The Iranamadu tank is almost at spill level and other tanks are overflowing. 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. In the early mornings of 5 February, around 2,000 households in 11 villages in the Nannattan DS Division (DSD), five villages in the Manthai West DSD, two in Madhu and one village in Mannar DSDs in Mannar district were evacuated as a precautionary measure as the Giant tank approached breach due to water flowing from the Malwatu Oya river (Anuradhapura). The authorities together with the DMC, Police, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) assisted in the evacuations. As the breach risk remains of the Giant tank bund, authorities remain on alert. The tanks below have been reported as overflowing or at spill level, with sluice gates opened in a bid to ensure that increasing water levels do not damage reservoir bunds. 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, Minneriya, Girithale Kilinochchi Iranamadu, Akarayan Kulam, Vaneari Kulam, Puthumuripu Kulam, Kanakampehai Kulam, Visuvamadu Kulam, Kalmadu Kulam and Uttupulam Kulam Vavuniya Puthtukkulam, Thankdikulam, Rajenderakulam, Pandarikulam, Pavatkulam (including over 650 minor tanks in disrepair following conflict) Mannar Giant Tank A total of 7,761 houses (6,847 fully and 914 partially) have been damaged in 13 districts, according to information available. 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 The district authorities held coordination meetings with UN and NGOs participation across the Northern districts to verify information received and mobilize a coordinated and appropriate response with stock‐taking of combined supplies and contributions by all to ensure assistance will be provided and the people can be accessed despite the poor road conditions. OCHA, WFP, UNDP have deployed additional staff to the Eastern districts of Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee and to Anuradhapura and Polonaruwa Districts to support government‐led coordination. On 4 February, the Minister of Disaster Management (MDM), Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera announced that the government has provided Rs. 285.9 million to the District Secretaries for food distribution. The District Secretaries will provide cooked meals for 3 days and 1 week of dry rations to the affected populations, however needs remain in many districts. This is in addition to the shelter, Non‐food Items (NFIs), mobile toilets, water purification tablets and other items sent to the districts. The DMC has deployed around 20 boats and over 300 life jackets to Anuradhapura (11 boats) and Polonnaruwa (4 boats) districts. The SLN is operating over 15 boats with teams to Batticaloa (5 teams), Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa (4 teams each), and Anuradhapura (2 teams) for search and rescue operations. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRC) has provided 5 boats for search and rescue operations in the Batticaloa and another 20 fisherman boats have been mobilized in the Mannar district to carry out evacuations. The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) mobilized four helicopters to airlift marooned people to safety in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts. Search and rescue operations in the districts are being carried out by the DMC, police, SLA, SLN and SLAF. In Vavuniya district, on 4 February, the Minister of Industries and the Vavuniya Government Agent (GA) chaired a coordination meeting for the flood response. The Government departments, the police, Military and humanitarian agencies participated. The GA identified tarpaulins, bed sheets, mosquito nets, clothes and water purification tablets as immediate needs. Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods: In Vavuniya district, the government will provide 3 days 2cooked meals and 1 week of dry rations. Minister 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. Bathiudeen instructed all Multi‐Purpose Corporative Societies (MPCSs) to function daily and traders to control prices of commodities. The military and police will assist the MPCSs and