The European Union (EU) has allocated 100,000 euros (over 34.5 million Sri Lankan rupees) for emergency humanitarian assistance to some 15,000 people affected by floods in Sri Lanka.
Families in the worst-hit localities in Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Western provinces will benefit from the aid, the EU’s Colombo mission said in a statement on Monday October 30.
“This EU funding supports the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society (SLRCS) in delivering emergency relief items, including drinking water, clothes, bed sheets and mosquito nets. In addition, affected families will receive cash grants to enable them to meet their basic needs. The assistance will also focus on cleaning up flooded areas and wells while delivering hygiene promotion campaigns. Medical camps will be set up to assist those injured in the wake of the floods,” the EU said.
According to the statement, the funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
“The southern part of the island nation started experiencing a series of strong monsoon rains in early October, causing floods and landslides that affected more than 75,000 people in 13 districts. As a result of the continued downpours and strong winds, a number of houses, agricultural lands and crops in low-lying areas were damaged. Major traffic arteries to several districts were cut off by fallen trees. The floods left many drinking water resources contaminated. The worst affected areas were the coastal districts of Galle, Gampaha and Matara, with most parts flooded for more than a week.”
The European Union is signatory to a 10 million-euro humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal, the EU said.