• Floods Situation Report #1 11 November 2010

This report was issued by OCHA Sri Lanka. It covers the period from 10 November to 11 November. The next report will be issued on or around 13 November.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

• Flash floods have been reported in the districts of , , and in South- Western parts of Sri Lanka, particularly in Colombo capital. While waiting for assessment results on the scope of the impact, the spiraling effects of traffic congestions, delays of trains, closure of school, electricity interruptions and disruption of several services are being faced by the emergency and rescue responders.

• The total affected population as informed by the DMC as at 16.00 hrs on 11 November in all four districts is 186,893 persons or 42,646 families (the majority in with 156,345 persons or 33,501 families. Requirements for assistance are currently being elaborated.

• The Minister for Disaster Management, Minister Fowzie, has announced an allocation of LKR 10 million for flood response.

• The DMC together with the District Secretary (Government Agent) Colombo and the Divisional Secretaries of the Colombo District are coordinating with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and other institutions on the response for the Flash Floods in Colombo.

• There are reports of heavy rain in District (North-Central region), and there are indications of sustained rain in Mulaitivu and Kilinochchi Districts (North region). No severe flooding has been reported.

II. Situation Overview

On Wednesday night, 10 Nov 2010, the district of Colombo experienced torrential rain with more than 440mm of rainfall, inundating most parts of Colombo city and surroundings ( 274mm, 88mm, 67mm, 40mm). The Director General of the Department of Meteorology commented it as the heaviest rains experienced in Colombo for 18 years. The Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology issued a Bad Weather Advisory valid for 12 hours for 11 Nov, stating heavy rainfall and thundershowers with fairly strong winds across most parts of the island, and lightning activities occurring in the Southern part of the country (the inter-monsoon period with evening thundershowers is expected to persist until mid December).

Flash floods have been reported in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Kegalle. Major roads leading outside of Colombo ( - Mannar Road through Eluvankulam, and Colombo- Road) are heavily congested with roads deemed dangerous. While waiting for assessment results on the scope of the impact, the spiraling effects of traffic congestions, delays of trains, closure of school, electricity interruptions and disruption of several services are being faced by the emergency and rescue responders. Taking precautionary measures, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has shutdown substations in certain parts of the city. The Police Department has also advised the use of Public Transport to avoid traffic congestion, and the Ministry of Education has instructed school principals to use their discretion on the closure of schools for the day. The GoSL have commented that the flash floods are largely due to the obstruction of flow of rain water in the draining ditches and canals by unauthorized constructions on the sides of the canals and improper bridges and culverts. Colombo has experienced similar floods in May of 2009.

At present, DMC reports some housing damage, including 6 partially damaged houses in , and 50 houses in and Pinidiyamulla GN Divisions. Houses in the Gurudola GN Divisions in the Mathugama DS Division have been affected by a landslide. Additionally, 11 houses have been damaged due to strong winds in the Western Province (in Ratmalana).

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.

Locations of Concern (DMC Information)

In Kalutara: - Bandaragama Road , Millaniya-Kolamadiriya Road, Horawala Yatadola - Road, Walallawita Yagirala.

In Colombo: Thotalanga junction, , Kynsey Road, Wijerama Mw, Royal College Road, Sangharaja Mw, Horton Place, Peoples Park, -Angoda Road, Bokundara area, area, roads in Kotte, upto Sudharmarama Mawatha areas

III. Humanitarian Needs and Response

Rapid assessments are still ongoing in Colombo led by the National Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and results are being consolidated with results to be shared as soon as possible. The total affected population as informed by the DMC as at 16.00 hrs on 11 November in all four districts is 186,893 persons or 42,646 families (the majority in Colombo district with 156,345 persons or 33,501 families). Requirements for assistance are currently being elaborated by the DMC.

Flood Affected Districts in Sri Lanka (11 Nov 2010, 16.00 hrs) Districts Families Persons Colombo 33,501 156,345 Kalutara 5,305 22,531 Gampaha 1,803 8,017 Kegalle - - (one death reported) TOTAL 42,646 186,893 (source: Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Sri Lanka)

Flood-Affected Divisions in Colombo District (11 Nov 2010, 16.00hrs) DS Division No. Camps Families affected People affected Colombo 03 19,965 97,595 Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte 08 6,000 18,000 Ratmanalana 01 5,145 28,795 Kasbewa - 1,055 5,275 Maharagama - 1,250 6,250 Kaduwela - 86 430 Total 12 33,501 156,345 (source: Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Sri Lanka)

Assessments and Relief Missions The DMC together with staff members from the World Food Programme (WFP), UNDP, and OCHA have embarked on a rapid Joint Assessment mission of affected locations in Colombo at 11.00 am local time. The DMC together with staff members from the World Food Programme (WFP), UNDP, and OCHA have embarked on a rapid Joint Assessment mission of affected locations in Colombo at 11.00 am local time. The assessment will focus on obtaining photograph and GPS locations, road segments and junctions, canals and other important locations.

In addition, the DMC together with the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) are carrying out a comprehensive aerial reconnaissance and relief missions over Colombo using helicopters on Colombo-Kandy Road, , and Kalutara.

The Disaster Preparedness and Response Unit of the Ministry of Health (MoH) are also assessing the health needs in the affected areas, and preliminary results will be shared through WHO.

National Response The Minister for Disaster Management, Minister Fowzie, has announced an allocation of LKR 10 million for flood response in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara.

According to the DMC, adequate coordinators and relief staff have been deployed to assist the affected, and the DMC has also dispatched boats to ferry people along flooded roads inside the suburbs of Colombo. Flood relief teams of the Sri Lanka Navy have been deployed in Colombo to assist people affected by the flood.

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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IV. Coordination

The DMC together with the District Secretary (Government Agent) Colombo and the Divisional Secretaries of the Colombo District are coordinating with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and other institutions on the response for the Flash Floods in Colombo.

The District Secretaries of Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha and other districts affected by floods are making provisions to distribute food rations to those in need. OCHA has deployed a liaison person to the DMC to support the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and full time GIS/ mapping capacity. Satellite imagery and mapping of logistics are underway and on standby should there be further support needed to assess the extent of impact (with coordination and request through the EOC).

VI. Contact

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

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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