Palmera Projects
Flood Disaster in Sri Lanka
Amount Donated: $20,000
Project commencement: January 2011
Partner Organisations: Alliance Development Trust / LEADS
Background
Heavy torrential rainfall has caused major flooding to the East of Sri Lanka. Over one million people have been affected by the recent floods, making this the worst natural disaster in Sri Lanka since the Tsunami in 2004, and the highest recorded rainfall in the last century. As of 1 Feburary 2011, at least 44 deaths have been re reported, and numerous who are injured and still missing. At the peak of the floods, approximately 367,000 people were displaced and were staying in over 500 temporary relocation centres across 12 districts. Early relief efforts have been hampered by the fresh floods that have hit the region on 4 February 2011.
Those affected are facing a plethora of humanitarian issues, which include:
Shelter - Approximately 5,381 homes have been totally destroyed and a further 21,947 homes have been partially damaged due to the flooding. These victims remain at temporary shelters or have moved in with friends as their homes and all/most of their belongings have been destroyed.
Livelihood - The floods have almost completely wiped out many farm lands and their livestock to the east of Sri Lanka. Over 230,000 acres of paddy cultivation has been completely destroyed. People are returning to their villages/homes only to find that they cannot resume their livelihoods.
Education - A total of 821 schools have been damaged by the floods and require repairs/renovations. Currently 450 schools are being used as temporary evacuation centres and require repairs and cleaning before schooling resumes. An estimated 350,000 children will require new school books and equipment.
Immediate food security – With their livelihoods destroyed and homes in disarray, many of the people displaced by the floods are struggling for basic food needs such as rice and milk formula as they return to their homes and try to clean up and rebuild.
Health and Disease - The risks of water-borne diseases and the borne dengue disease is a major issue that comes along with the flooding. As most of the water supply has been contaminated, diarrhoea has become a common illness amongst the displaced.
Land Mines - Threats are looming where unexploded land mines left during the final stages of the civil war may have been unearthed by the floods.
ADT Project Description
Palmera is committing $10,000 to the emergency relief arm of Alliance Development Trust (ADT ). We are working with ADT's Batticaloa office to address the threats to food security and water sanitation in this flood ravaged region. $5,000 of the funds committed will be used to purchase and distribute infant and toddler milk powder to 2,000 children, a basic need which has become impossible for families to obtain in the worst-affected villages. The remaining funds will utilised to clean, test and chlorinate up to 100 open wells and improve water sanitation in these areas, which will be invaluable in reducing the spread of water-borne disease.
LEADS Project Description
Palmera is committing $10,000 to the LEADS Emergency Response plan for Sri Lankan flood victims in the following districts: Ampara, Trincomalee, Hambantota, Kurunegala, Kandy, Killinochi and Mullathivu. These funds will be used to arrange dry ration packs and utility packs (including basic needs items such as cooking utensils) for those who are returning to their damaged or destroyed homes after the floods. A portion of the funds will also be used to purchase supplies for LEADS to restore schools damaged by the rain and floods.
Click to view the and of funds donated!
Description of Partners
ADT
Palmera Projects is working in partnership with ADT, a Sri Lanka implementing NGO. ADT's work in Sri Lanka centres around emergency relief, livelihood recovery, infrastructure development, water sanitation, child development, HIV/AIDS awareness, and peace & reconciliation. For more information on ADT please visit
LEADS
LEADS are a registered community development organization whose focus is in assisting the most vulnerable and poor people of Sri Lanka. They work to empower the poor and their families in transforming their communities, to advocate and inform on behalf of the voiceless and to provide care for people and communities experiencing emergency physical harm and long-term neglect. For more information on LEADS please visit