OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Sri Lanka: Floods
2 November 2006


This situation report is based on information received from the OCHA 
Office in Sri Lanka.

Situation

1. As a result of the inter-monsoon rains combined with storms several 
areas of Sri Lanka have flooded. As of 1 November, the Disaster 
Management Centre reported that 25 people had been killed, two had been 
injured and about 333,000 people had been affected.

National and International Response

2. The Ministry of Disaster Relief Services provided a list of items 
needed to assist the affected population. The Disaster Management Centre 
(DMC) also provided a list of additional requirements for Colombo, 
Gampaha, Puttlam and Kulutara districts.  These were reviewed by the 
humanitarian community and successfully provided.

3. In Kalutara, IOM is coordinating efforts with the Government Agent 
(GA) and is ready to assist with Water and Sanitation kits, non-food 
relief items and shelter if required. IOM together with the Kalutara GA 
is coordinating ongoing assessment to determine damage to property.

4. UNICEF stands ready to immediately provide 6,000 sets of kitchen 
utensils, 3,000 sleeping mats, 200 water tanks, 10,000 bed sheets, 
10,000 towels and 10,000 bars of soap. UNICEF, if needed, will also 
procure septic tank cleaning equipment such as gully suckers, water 
pumps, wheelbarrows, shovels and mammoties.

5. UNHCR is able to immediately provide 3,400 sets of kitchen utensils, 
3,400 plastic mats, 3,400 bed sheets, 3,400 towels and 6,800 bars of 
soap. In addition UNHCR has in stock 5,000 mammoties.

6. The Government of Sri Lanka is organizing the assessment for the next 
stage, which will concentrate on flood mitigation. On 1 November, the 
Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights organized a meeting 
with stakeholders to prepare the assessment of worst affected areas and 
develop mitigation plans on floods.

7. UN agencies, under the leadership of UNDP, will be part of the 
multi-sectoral teams that will be sent to the field on 8 November. 
Meanwhile, UNDP is committed to secure USD 100,000 for mitigation of 
floods and liases with the DMC.

8. As the relief phase is practically over, this is the last situation 
report on the flood in Sri Lanka provided by OCHA. This situation 
report, together with additional information on other ongoing 
emergencies, is also available on http://www.reliefweb.int.

Tel.:  +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  GVA - Ms. Paola Emerson, direct Tel. +41-22-917 1613
  GVA - Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa, direct Tel. +41-22-917 4032
  NYC - Mr. Wojtek Wilk, direct Tel. +1-917-367 9748

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126

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Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
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Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
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