Drought impacts nearly 280,000 people in 19 districts

•  Jaffna most affected district with total of 22,000 families and 70,243 individuals affected
•  Department of Meteorology predicts no sufficient rainfall till October

The country’s ongoing dry spell has severely affected around 280,000 people in 19 districts.

The latest Disaster Management Centre data showed that the current dry weather has made it difficult for 279,739 people from 81,035 families to access drinking water in the districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Badulla, Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Badulla, Monaragala, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Matale, Gampaha, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts due to the prevailing dry weather.

Jaffna is the most impacted district thus far, with a total of 22,000 families and 70,243 people affected by the drought, with the Chankanai division being the heaviest stricken since June.

Separately, the Department of Meteorology stated that there will be insufficient rainfall till October.

The Met Department observed that the Southwest monsoon did not bring enough rain to the country this year, probably due to the El Nio effect.

Most of the country receives the most rain in October and November each year.