Sri Lanka: worst floods in five decades

Siripala reports: "We bought dried food items including rice, dhal, sugar, and dried fish etc. for 170 families and the books and school equipments for 106 school children. At the same time we had to organize people to clean their houses before they start dwelling back on their premises. We also organized a medical clinic and diagnosed and gave medicine for over 200 people. And we have to organize for another medical clinic for the people around here."

Volunteers and staff from many organizations, among them HELP, have been working around the clock to help people affected by the worst floods in five decades. The severe floods are the result of torrential rains that lasted for several days, killing more than 20 people and affecting over 500,000 people in the south, west and central parts of the country. According to the disaster management centre in Sri Lanka, more than 300 houses have been destroyed by the floods and another 250 have been partially damaged. Monsoon rains are common at this time of the year, but many have described the flooding as the worst they have experienced in five decades and May is only the beginning of the monsoon season.