Relief work continues as aid trickles in

Friday, 2 June 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

UN says at least 150,000 women, among them 7, 600 pregnant women, and over 189,000 children affected

Relief work continued for the seventh day after disaster struck 15 districts in the country with the onset of the Southwestern monsoon.

As assistance from foreign countries poured in to aid the affected, many who were victims of the floods slowly began returning to their homes as water levels receded.

The Disaster Management Centre has confirmed 206 deaths, with 92 people reported missing and 68,730 people temporarily displaced to 365 safe locations due to the floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains which began last week. The UN Resident Coordinator’s flash update report estimates that among the affected at least 150,000 are women and girls of reproductive age, 7,600 are pregnant women and over 189,000 are children. According to the UN

update, as of yesterday, 17 countries have provided in-kind donations, expert support and funding to the relief operations.

Norway announced a contribution of $ 1.2 million, including part of the allocation to UNICEF. Italy allocated EUR 200,000 ($ 224,850) of multilateral emergency funding to WFP. Canada will provide CAD $ 250,000 ($ 185,100).

The UNFP will be providing the Government with 10,000 dignity kits (female sanitary items) and maternity-related relief items responding to a request from the Ministry of Health, the UN report said. According to the report, a total of 19 agencies, including the Sri Lanka Red Cross, are currently responding in most of the affected districts.

Death toll now at 206

Death toll owing to the weekend floods and landslides was 206 with 92 still missing. The number of injured was 68, the Disaster Management Centre said.