Rs. 22 million aid for flood-affected
by Mohammed Naalir
The Government has allocated Rs. 22 million to the District
Secretaries of flood-affected districts to grant relief to flood
victims, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
The Minister said the Government is on the alert round the clock
regarding flood victims and in case of an emergency, the Government is
ready to allocate funds to the affected districts. A few days ago, the
Government had allocated two million rupees for relief work in the
Batticaloa district.
Over 300,000 people have been affected by the floods caused by heavy
rains. Several areas in the Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee districts
have gone under water, according to Disaster Management Centre sources.
According to the latest statistics of the Disaster Management Centre,
35,847 families numbering 81,068 persons have been affected in the
Batticaloa district.
The 1,704 families numbering 6,408 persons displaced in Batticaloa
have been housed in over 20 welfare camps and 10,829 families numbering
41,702 persons have found shelter with relatives and friends.
According to the Disaster Management Centre, 176 houses have been
completely damaged in the Batticaloa district while 762 houses have been
partly damaged. Several tanks in Batticaloa are overflowing and villages
and water channels have gone underwater, Batticaloa District Secretary
Sundharam Arumainayakam said. Transport to several villages has been
interrupted due to the floods. The assistance of the Navy has also been
sought to conduct relief work and in an emergency situation to evacuate
people to safe places, according to the District Secretary.
The people who have been housed in welfare camps are being provided
with cooked meals, Arumainayakam said.
According to Batticaloa Regional Irrigation Director S. Mohan, the
sluice gates of the Unnichchai, Nawagiri, Urugamam and Wakaneri tanks
have been opened to one feet to release excessive water.
Compensation will be granted to the owners of the damaged houses,
according to Minister Amaraweera.
Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Ratnapura, Matara and Anuradhapura
districts have also been affected due to the prevailing adverse weather
condition.
An emergency unit has been set up at the Batticaloa District
Secretariat. Information relating to floods and affected families can be
provided to this centre over the hotline number 0652223151,
Arumainayakam said.As the temporary road laid by the Road Development
Authority at Kittangi-Thambothi was washed away by the floods, transport
to Kalmunai, Navithanveli and Galoya colonies through Kittangi has also
been completely interrupted.Meanwhile, 596 families comprising 2,359
persons have been affected in Kilinochchi. Over 230 families numbering
877 persons in Trincomalee district and 29 families numbering 119
persons in Ratnapura district have been affected, according to Disaster
Management Centre sources.
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