Turkey donates flood relief

The Turkish Red Crescent Society donated family-size tents, solar powered lamps and blankets to the Sri Lankan authorities, following the island suffering a severe natural disaster in May.

The relief materials were flown to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by Turkish Airlines on 22 May.

Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, Tunca Ozcuhadar handed over the relief supplies to Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management. Making brief remarks, Ambassador Ozcuhadar noted with happiness that Turkey was among the first countries to respond to the 2004 tsunami and offer tsunami relief.

Pakistan provides relief assistance

A special cargo plane carrying relief goods for the Sri Lankan flood victims from Pakistan arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Friday evening.

The cargo plane flew the third consignment of relief goods, including medicine, rain coats, rain boots, mosquito repellents, shelters and tents, identified as the immediate requirements by the flood-hit island.

The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Dr. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra, handed over the consignment of relief goods to officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management at the BIA.

Rajitha thanks international community

Addressing the World Health assembly (WHA) in Geneva on May 24, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr Rajitha Senaratne expressed his gratitude for the international community's overwhelming support for Sri Lanka in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster and called upon the World Health Organization (WHO) to further strengthen the timely health response to the affected people.

Addressing the assembly, Minister Senaratne said the government was committed to the Sustainable Development Agenda through a specially established multi-sectoral Sustainable Development Secretariat to achieve the national goals. On the sidelines of the WHA, Minister Senaratne also met with his counterparts from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal and Spain, and with Dr Poonam Singh, the Regional Director of South East Asian Region (SEAR) of WHO.

US offers three-year flood assistance program

The United States Government has provided Rs. 7.2 million (US$50,000) for immediate disaster assistance for non-food items such as blankets, mattresses, clothing and hygiene kits.

In addition, the United States Embassy in Colombo, in coordination with the United States Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, is expediting plans to support a new, three-year program totalling Ra. 144 million (US $1 million) designed to provide safe, disaster-resilient, drinking water to populations who are highly vulnerable to flooding and droughts.

This new program would build additional resiliencies and help address the need for reliable access to potable water during natural disasters.

"This response is in keeping with the longstanding friendship between the Sri Lankan and American people and the growing partnership between our two governments," said Ambassador Atul Keshap.

Korean help for flood victims

Chang Won-sam, Korean Ambassador to Sri Lanka recently met with Harsha De Silva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Ministry on May 27, where he handed over the Korean Government's aid of US$ 100,000 for the rehabilitation of areas affected by floods and landslides.

European Union assists survivors

In the aftermath of massive landslides and floods, the European Commission has provided 200 000 EUR (Rs. 32.8 million) in humanitarian funding to assist the most affected populations.

This aid will directly benefit 20 000 individuals who have been heavily impacted in five of the worst-hit districts, namely Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam, Kegalle and Kurunegala.

This EU-funding supports the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society in delivering much-needed assistance through the provision of emergency non-food relief items such as tarpaulins, latrines, household kits, school items as well as medical and first aid services.