FLOOD DEVASTATION AT KILINOCHCHI

25th November, 2005

FLOOD DEVASTATION AT KILINOCHCHI, SRI LANKA, DUE TO
HEAVY SEASONAL TORRENTS.

Attention: All support groups, friends and colleagues

Dear Friends,
Soon after the Presidential Election in Sri Lanka, the
heavy seasonal rain continuously pours for the last
three days, filling all the tanks in the provinces and
major towns in the south and north due to the
depression in the Bay of Bangal. The people living in
the low land areas near the rivers and canals
evacuated their houses for danger of torrents released
from the major tank – Iranamadhukulam.

According to the District Secretariat, about 12,000
families are living in the schools as displaced from
their homes.

We are afraid, if this torrential rain continues until
the end of December, the poor people may die of hunger
and the medical supplies not reaching them until the
roads become better for transportation.

This is a disaster-preparedness arrangement for the
affected disabled, living in all the divisions in the
Kilinochchi district.

We hope, that your support for this programme would
enable us to help the most affected disabled whom
KAROD – Kilinochchi has to care for.

We appreciate your fullest support.
Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,




Flood devastation in the Kilinochchi district

This is to report the general climatic condition,
after the presidential election, the continuous
seasonal shower for the last 3 days and as a result
the entire areas FLOODED due to the filling of tanks.

The whole of Sri Lanka, including the capital city of
Colombo – and other towns in the south, Matara, Galle,
Negombo – and in the North and East, Trinco,
Batticoloa, Jaffna and Kilinochchi have seen the mass
of flooded water, made the people to suffer.

It is reported, in the Jaffna district, 31 Grame
sevake divisions were flooded, including Vaddamarachi,
Vallikamam and Thenmarachchi and the people were
displaced.

In the Kilinochchi district, due to the unprecedented
heavy shower for the last 3 days; have filled all the
major tanks – Iranaimadhukulam, Akkarayankulam,
Maniankulam, Kalmadhukulam and Vannerikulam and other
minor tanks and made all the people to evacuate their
houses in the low lying areas of Paravippanchan,
Vannerikulam, Paranthan and some villages in the
Kandawalai division.

In the Kilinochchi district, in Poonagary division 792
families were displaced; in Karachchi division 2,466
families; in Kandawalai division 2,929 families and in
Palai division 510 families were displaced. As the
families were unable to live in their homes due to
water creped into their houses. They were sheltered
in the 16 schools. About 300 TRO volunteers have
rescued the families from the overwhelming flood
water. The
Government Agent has appealed all the NGOO to help the
displaced people. The normal travelling and transport
to these places are cut down; and the people were
unable to go to their relatives and friends. Due to
the Akkarayankulam and the spill of water; about 300
meters long road areas are under water and the people
are unable to come to Kilinochchi town. About 10 feet
deep water is rushing in these places. About 11,000
homes were affected by the water gushing through their
floor, making them unable to use it for normal work.

In Mullaitivu district, some of the villages are
severely affected due to flood water. In Mullaitivu,
about 17,460 people were affected. In Colombo, 6
persons died due to houses collapsed due to heavy
rain.

KAROD has its experience serving the people in
disaster; normally, our relief services include dry
ration and non food items to the people affected by
calamities in the areas where government and other
NGOO not helping the people. Our services also
limited to disabled persons who lack support from
other NGOO. The dry ration contains basic foodstuff
such as rice, dhall, tinfish, sugar, milkpowder and
tea. The non food items are, mats, bed spreads, bed
sheets, clothes, cooking utensils, lanterns, matches,
soap and water cans. The total cost may rise up to
Rs. 2,000 per family. The food and non food items are
available in retail shops in Kilinochchi. CDO’s could
identify the most affected family or person in their
areas; and distribution could effect, Field Officers
organizing the delivered items to the beneficiaries in
our own vehicles, when the roads become normal.

We are making arrangements to pick about 1,000
affected families who urgently need assistance in all
the divisions as a first step to give relief.

As a total cost, we may need Rs. 2,160,000.00 (21,600
US.DOLLARS) including transport and administrative
charges.

KAROD has its funds assisted by Donor Agencies for
Programmes – Normally the end of December augments
exhausted funds with the final statement. In this
period, the new project proposals to be prepared for
the next year.

Besides, the displacement, there are people who have
lost their paddy cultivation; after spending a large
sum of monies borrowed or otherwise, started
cultivating their small plots to earn an income to
support their families; hopelessly seen their fruit of
the toil submerging in the water.

At this juncture, we look forward for the Relief
assistance to the needs of the most affected families
and disabled persons in our areas and appeal to your
most sympathetic considerations and munificent support
for our Relief Services at this hour of dire need.

Our Bankers are Commercial Bank Ltd., Vavuniya Branch,
Sri Lanka and our Account Number is: 1610066402, the
Swift Code is CCEYLKLX.

Our contact person is Rev. Sr. Lourdes Joseph,
Director, KAROD, Kilinochchi and the telephone number
is 0212285784 – email – mljoseph5@yahoo.com.


Report sent by: Mr. S. A. Leo / Mr. Mugunthan / Mr.
Noel
KAROD, Kilinochchi.

Signed by: Sr. Lourdes Joseph