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.