Sri Lanka Monsoon Flood Update Situation Report 14 Date: 15 February 2011 Colombo

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1 Sri Lanka Monsoon Flood Update Situation Report 14 Date: 15 February 2011 Colombo I. HIGHLIGHTS / KEY PRIORITIES More displaced people continue to make their way home with the decrease in rains and in the wake of receding floodwaters in the Eastern, Northern and North Central Provinces. Some displacement still remains mainly in the Central province due to landslide threats. The Disaster Management Centre report as of 0900hrs on 15 February indicates 991,467 people (268,931 families) affected by the floods and landslides. This includes 6,602 persons (2,050 families) in 71 temporary evacuation sites in 07 districts. Eighteen deaths, 24 injured and three missing persons are reported. Multi sectoral needs assessments have commenced by the Government in the Northern, Eastern, Central and North Central provinces, with support of agencies in most affected areas. On 15 February, the highest rainfall of 75.6mm was reported from Haldamulla in the Uva Province with scattered showers reported across the island. The Meteorological Department predicts scattered showers in the Eastern Province during the day with scattered thunder showers across the island. II. Situation Overview Fair weather and minimal rain except in some parts of the Central Province has allowed more displaced people to return home and the progressive closure of temporary evacuation sites. By 15 February, the displaced population dropped to 6,602 less 63,025 from the report of 11 February (Vavuniya: 153; Mannar: 2,216; Trincomalee: 434; Badulla: 2,292; Matale: 164; Kandy: 1,200 and Nuwara Eliya: 143). Local authorities in Batticaloa report that 7,579 persons (1,983 families) still remain with friends and relatives in 07 Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs). Concerns remain in Badulla (10,385 affected persons), Matale (13,141 persons), Nuwara Eliya (2,846 persons), Kandy (1,253 persons) and Ratnapura (24 persons) districts due to landslide warnings and cutting failures reported in some areas. The affected populations have declined from 1,165,102 to 991,467. Graph 1: Flood affected population from December 2010 February 2011

2 Graph 2: Displaced population from January February 2011 With rains ceasing, tanks which were reported at spill level in the last situation report of 11 February in Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Mannar have returned to normal. The Road Development Authority (RDA) has constructed a temporary bridge to access Padavisiripura, North of Trincomalee district which remains inaccessible by road. It is also reported that the Kanthalai Seruwila road and the road to Verugal main road though heavily damaged is accessible. Interior villages in some parts of Verugal are only accessible by boat or tractor. III. Humanitarian response The Ministry of Disaster Management has issued a circular stating that no new constructions will be made in landslideprone areas without the authorization of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO). If any construction takes place with the advice of Pradeshiya Sabhas or Provincial Councils without NBRO authorization, that particular authority would take the responsibility for such constructions. Food: In Batticaloa District, WFP is providing emergency food to 192,000 in all 14 DS Divisions (except for Chenkalady DSD) for up to six days. Soft Food for Work will begin in March based on the dry food rations package provided to date followed by Food for Work programme from April onwards. Shelter/NFI: According to the DMC report of 15 February, a total of fully and partially damaged houses (4,246 and 22,515 respectively) have been estimated in 12 districts. This does not include the 5,893 fully and 11,327 partially damaged houses reported by local authorities in Batticaloa district. The majority of housing damages (fully and partial) are from the Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Ampara, Badulla and Polonnaruwa districts. In Batticaloa District, the Government Agent (GA) together with the support of agencies are identifying the remainder of NFI gaps and needs (See summary table of NFI distribution), however the prioritized need in the district is for shelter assistance. The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) has developed a standard shelter design that will be shared with the agencies, however agencies have the flexibility in design with minimum standards of including a cement floor and metal roof. Further to the assessments carried out by the NHDA, as at 14 February damages to housing has been estimated at 5,893 fully damaged and 11,327 as partially damaged in the Batticaloa district. Shelter interventions/activities planned include government capacity to provide tin sheets to around 2,000 families, UNOPS distribution of 400 monsoon kits, repairs to 150 houses by OfFER, and 400 shelters by ZOA and 350 shelter upgrades by NRC. Agencies are awaiting shelter material for commencement of construction. Other agencies are also exploring options to support reconstruction. A recommendation has been made to use unskilled labour from flood affected areas through a cash for work programme to support livelihoods and income generation. In Mannar district there is a need for baby blankets, infant kits and mosquito nets. There is also a need for clothing for older children and adults in temporary evacuation sites as most of them left their homes with only what they were wearing. Table 1: Summary of NFI distribution in Batticaloa district Items Amount Agencies Total # of NFI kits distributed 23,569 ACTED, ADT, CARE, HelpAge,IOM, Islamic Relief, NRC, Oxfam GB, Save the Children, Swedish Cooperative Center, UMCOR, World Vision, ZOA Total # of Tarpaulins distributed 18,620 IOM, Oxfam Australia/KPNDU, Save the Children, UNICEF, ZOA 2

3 Total # of Hygiene kits distributed 18,934 UMCOR, World Vision, ASB, Oxfam GB, ZOA, ACTED, Muslim Aid, Save the Children, Islamic Relief, JAN WASH: In the Batticaloa district, 31 water bowsers are in operation distributing around 360,000 litres of water daily, benefiting 72,000 flood affected population in 14 DSDs. Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) are monitoring the water quality of the water bowsering and supporting Pradeshiya Sabhas for proper chlorination. UNICEF has provided 19 chlorine drums and 700,000 water purification tablets to Regional Director for Health Services (RDHS), 32 chlorine drums and 112 plastic water tanks (1,000 litres) to Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government (R/ACLG) in Batticaloa. A further 8,000 plastic buckets and 3,800 hygiene kits have been distributed to flood affected population through Divisional Secretariat up to now. There are 8 water treatment plants operating in Batticaloa District supported by NGOs and DMC. All villages have at least one safe drinking water source through high ground common well, pipeline access or water bowsering. ZOA continues water purification in Santhivelly at the rate of 28,000 liters per day. Significant need for temporary toilets, gully suckers and well cleaning have been highlighted across the Batticaloa district. Although approximately 4,200 wells were cleaned following the January floods, it is estimated that these have all been re contaminated following the most recent floods. While the total need for well cleaning for the district is being assessed, at present agencies report a total capacity to clean 10,000 wells (UNICEF 5,000 and another 5,000 wells by NGOs). In the Ampara district, it is estimated that around 1,000 wells will require renovation. It is also estimated that around 14,000 wells will require de watering/cleaning/chlorination, with another 23,000 wells alone requiring chlorination. So far, 750 wells have been cleaned by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) with the support from WASH agencies providing 5,000 people access to safe water. Four water bowsers are supplying water for the vulnerable locations in the districts. Around 45,000 litres of water is supplied daily with approximately 10,000 people gaining access to safe drinking water in the Ampara District. In addition to the 29 chlorine drums and 330,000 water purification tablets provided to local authorities, around 2,000 hygiene kits have been distributed. Furthermore, ZOA is providing water purification at a rate of 12,000 litres per day in the water purification plant established at Aliyadiwembu DSD. The ACLG and the RDHS have highlighted the urgent need for gully suckers to empty the pits especially in the costal divisions and for the need to establish a night soil treatment plant. In the Trincomalee district, the ACLG/ Predeshiya Sabha with the assistance of the security forces is trucking around 52,000 litres per day for drinking purposes in selected DSD with the contribution of PWJ and UNICEF. Around 7,200 people are gaining access of drinking water daily. To date, around 322 wells have been cleaned providing 425 families access to safe water in the Trincomalee district through the ACLG/Pradeshiya Sabha supported by UNICEF, Oxfam, ZOA, World Vision, Muslim Aid, Jamath Islamic, Caring Hand and CCCD. The ACLG has cleaned 76 toilet pits providing 110 families safe sanitation facilities. The ACLG/ Pradeshiya Sabha continues waste management in all the DS division with existing resources. In Muthur, Caring Hands is supporting to PS and other DSDs have requested additional support from agencies. The ACLG is compiling the total needs to be requested. Weekly coordination meetings for the WASH sector are being held to discuss issues, needs and identify gaps in the east and the north with divisional level meetings held as required. Protection / Child Protection / Mine Action: The Department of Probation and Childcare Services supported by UNICEF and other agencies will carry out an assessment from 14 to 20 February to identify vulnerable issues related to children in the post flood context in Batticaloa District. The assessment will cover 42 villages, 3 GNs from each of the 14 DS Divisions. The final report of the assessment is expected to be submitted on 4 March Already there have been reports by the Police of increase in children used for begging by their parents to reduce the impact of floods. A further increase has been reported in admissions of children to children homes as impact of floods and deepening poverty. Four new born abandoned children have undergone adoption process following the floods. Education: In Batticaloa and Ampara districts, all schools, including those used as evacuation sites, have been reopened since 14 February. In Trincomalee district, all schools have resumed learning, however, interior schools in areas still inaccessible are looking at resuming education as soon as possible. In the North, all schools have resumed educational activities. 3

4 The Vavuniya South Zonal Education Office has initiated data collection on physical damages and number of affected students due to floods. In the Anuradhapura district, schools in Galenbindunuwewa, Horowpatana and those operating close to Malwathu Oya have been damaged and have reported school furniture/equipment loss, according to the DMC. In the Polonnaruwa district, the DMC reports of damages to schools in the Dimbulaga DSD. UNICEF has provided 4,000 learning kits to the Mannar Zonal Education Office for distribution to affected students. Health and Nutrition: Health services in general are functioning in all affected districts with the exception of isolated pockets inaccessible in Verugal DSDs in the Trincomalee district. Screening for identification of severely acute malnourished children is in progress in all affected districts. No communicable diseases have been reported in Trincomalee district and measures such as fogging to prevent vector borne diseases are being carried out daily. In the Kalmunai DSD of the Ampara district, there have been a few reported cases of dysentery. However health authorities have confirmed these cases as normal. Mobile clinics are being carried out by the RDHS in the Pottuvil DSD. The Batticaloa RDHS is looking at mobilizing extra doctors to supplement the existing staff capacities. Authorities remain vigilant for cases of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) and skin diseases; however no outbreaks of disease have been reported so far. Vaccinations have recommenced with the holding 10 mobile clinics daily by RDHS (Vellaveli and Paddippalai), MSF (Vavunathivu), World Vision (Vahari), Sarvodaya (Kiran), UNICEF and IOM (Mailavedduvan and Unnichchai). The authorities in Batticaloa estimate damages to health infrastructure, including base, district, divisional and rural hospitals, dispensaries and other services at Rs million (approximately US$ 427,774). Four medical mobile teams in Mannar and 3 medical mobile teams in Vavuniya districts are in operation. Nine sites were visited by the mobile clinic in Mannar including Periapandivirichchan, Sinnapandivirichchan, Katkadanthakulam, Nanattan, Palaikuli, Marichchukatti, Karadikuli and two sites in Parappukadanthan. Even though cooked meals have been provided, the nutritional value received through the feeding is not assured. There is no significant increase in any of the communicable diseases due to flooding. PHM and PHI have been assigned to each displacement site to undertake public health activities in Mannar district. Food preparations are supervised by the PHIs. RDHS has requested for support from UNICEF for transport and fuel costs for running the mobile health clinics. UNICEF has agreed support through hiring of lorries for the delivery of Corn Soya Blend and Thriposha to the Mullaithivu district. Food Security / Livelihoods: Food Security: According to the joint market price analysis of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) and the WFP, there was no increase seen in the price of rice during the month of January Normally, prices fall in January due to harvests. However, during the second week of February retail prices have begun to increase, up to 6% (for Samba I) due to limited supply following the floods. Nevertheless, the paddy production of 2010 was exceptional (4.3 million MT or 14 months of national requirement), making the carryover stocks available in the market sufficient for another two months period. Similarly prices of vegetables especially from the Central province (up country) and low country vegetables have increased due to flood losses. The analysis also points out the slight increase in the price of meat over the last month with importing of chicken and eggs in a bid to stabilize prices. A further increase during the months of January and February in the price of fish has been attributed to limited supply. Farmers in the East are working to recover any remaining harvests, however minimal. Serious concerns have been raised over the availability of seed for paddy and other crops. FAO and UNDP are currently evaluating seed quality and availability. Agriculture: The Department of Agriculture and Agrarian Services Department in Batticaloa estimates that over 95% (143,560 acres) of a total of 149,657 acres of paddy crop has been damaged during the February floods (damage estimated during the January floods was 77%). The department estimates over 44,000 farmers have been affected from loss to paddy crops. In addition, a total of 26,850 acres of damage to other crops have been estimated by the department, with damages to 4,600 acres to Other Food Crops (OFCs), 2,056 acres to vegetables, acres to fruits and 20,000 acres to home gardening. The paddy seed requirement for the Yala season is estimated at 160,749 bushels with an estimated 6,698MT of Urea, 1,875MT of TSP and 1,607MT of MOP as fertilizer. Similarly, seed and fertilizer is a required for other crops have been estimated at 185MT of Urea, MT of TSP and MT of MOP. 4

5 In Trincomalee district, authorities estimate a loss of 83% (80,589 acres) of paddy from a total of 96,331 acres sown amounting to Rs. 3,653 million (approximately US$ 32.9 million). Of the 83%, around 60% of damages were estimated from the January floods with another 23% damages occurring during the February floods. A further loss of 72% of OFCs (3,892 acres), 12.2% (321 acres) loss of vegetables and 49.6% (595 acres) of fruit amounting to Rs. 749 million (approximately US$ 6.75 million) has also been reported. Fisheries: In the fisheries sector, 22,406 fisherman have been affected in the Batticaloa district with damages estimating to Rs million (approximately US$ 455,000) incurred due to loss of fishing gear, boats and livelihood. Concerns remain for lagoon fishing due to high salinity levels in Batticaloa district. Preliminarily estimates of losses to inland fisheries, as reported from the Provincial Ministries of Agriculture, Animal Production, Rural Development Industries and Fisheries, are estimated at Rs.16.4 million (approximately US$ 147,747) Rs.7.05 million (US$ 63,513) for Trincomalee, Rs million (US$ 52,703) for Ampara and Rs. 3.5 million (US$31,531) for Batticaloa districts with over 160 canoes and over 2,000 nets damaged/lost. Livestock: In all districts, not only flooding caused large numbers of deaths to livestock, but losses have now increased due to the repeated floods and extended cold spell, inducing pneumonia and other diseases. In Batticaloa district, damage to livestock has been estimated at Rs. 1,230 million (approximately US$ 11,700 million) due to deaths of cattle, buffalos, goats, poultry, other livestock and infrastructure damages. In the Trincomalee district, damages amounting to a total of Rs. 213 million (approximately US$ 1.92 million) including to loss of livestock, farmer organization and department assets, infrastructure and vehicles) have been estimated with damage to livestock alone amounting to Rs. 212 million (approximately US$1.9 million). In the Ampara district, damage to livestock is estimated at Rs. 106 million (approximately US$ 960,700). While these are initial estimates submitted by the Provincial Line Ministries and Directors of Planning in the affected districts, changes to estimates are anticipated following ongoing assessments. Irrigation: In Batticaloa, a total of Rs. 467 million (US$ 4.2 million) has been estimated as damage to irrigation including to 8 major, 11 medium and 101 minor tanks. In Ampara district, Rs.464 million (US$4.2 million) has been estimated for damage to irrigation tanks. IV. Needs Assessments The authorities in the Northern, Eastern, Central, North Central provinces with partners support, are carrying out comprehensive, multi sectoral assessments to determine the impact of the floods and related landslides. The assessment will collect Grama Niladhari Divisions (GND) level information on needs including shelter, water, food, etc. In Batticaloa district assessments have been carried out in 89 GNDs of 14 DSDs. Assessments will be covered in 30 GNDs in Vavuniya, 20 GNDs in Mannar, 7 GNDs in Kilinochchi and 5 GNDs in Mullaitivu district. V. Funding By 15 February 2011, a total of US$ 19.2 million has been committed/pledged for the flood response. This includes contributions outside and towards projects in the Flash Appeal. Considering firm contribution and pledges, the Appeal is now funded at 27% (US$ 13.6 million). The Flash Appeal will undergo a revision following consultation with relevant authorities and analysis of the ongoing needs assessments. Colombo: Ms Barbara Manzi Head of Office manzi@un.org Ms Carrie Howard Information officer howard@un.org Tel: /5; Fax: Tel: For more information, please visit: 5

6 principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.