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Sri Lanka |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Floods, Complex Emergency
OFDA Response:
Emergency relief supplies, coordination, health, logistics, nutrition, protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene
OFDA Preparedness:
Disaster preparedness, capacity building
Latest OFDA Reports:
Sri Lanka Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #2(61kb) and (map)
Promise Success Stories
Promise Success Story (198kb PDF)
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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Floods, 5-20-2010
Since May 14, heavy rains associated with the May to August monsoon season have caused flooding and landslides in 13 districts of Sri Lanka, including Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Matara, Puttulam, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Mannar, Kurunegala, Trinco, and Ampara. As of May 21, flooding and landslides had killed approximately 24 individuals, injured an estimated 50 people, and affected more than 524,000 others, according to the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) Disaster Management Center (DMC). The GoSL DMC reported on May 21 that more than 17,000 people had relocated to internally displaced person camps. As of May 21, floods and landslides had destroyed more than 260 houses and partially damaged more than 1,160 others, as well as damaged power systems and other infrastructure in flood- and landslide-affected areas. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo reports that the GoSL DMC and international organizations continue to conduct damage assessments and monitor endemic dengue fever in affected areas.
On May 20, U.S. Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the flooding and landslides. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Colombo to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society for emergency relief supplies. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo and USAID/Sri Lanka continue to monitor humanitarian conditions in flood- and landslide-affected areas.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Complex Emergency, 12-04-2009
More than two decades of conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) separatist movement and resulting population displacement caused a complex emergency in Sri Lanka. In the months leading up to the May 19, 2009, GoSL declaration of victory over the LTTE, insecurity displaced more than 230,000 people, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Following the end of hostilities, insecurity resulting from unexploded landmines and property destruction hindered IDP returns to areas of origin; however, the rate of returns increased significantly in November and continued to increase as of early December. In late 2009, conflict-affected families were returning to areas of origin with minimal livelihood or recovery opportunities due to years of conflict.
On December 4, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Valerie Fowler redeclared a disaster due to the complex emergency in Sri Lanka and needs arising from IDP returns. Since Fiscal Year 2006, OFDA has provided more than $21 million to support humanitarian programs in health, nutrition, protection, disaster risk reduction, agriculture and food security, economy and market systems, shelter and settlements, humanitarian coordination and information sharing, and water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as to provide emergency relief supplies to conflict-affected individuals in Sri Lanka.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Floods, 12-01-2008
Between November 22 and 30, heavy rains associated with Cyclone Nisha led to severe flooding in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, particularly impacting conflict-affected populations and internally displaced persons in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, and Trincomalee districts. The Government of Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center (DMC) reported that flooding had affected an estimated 360,000 people, displaced more than 100,000 individuals, and killed at least 11 others, as of December 1. In Jaffna District alone, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee in Sri Lanka reported that flooding damaged or destroyed more than 40,000 houses and affected approximately 330,000 people, including an estimated 62,316 individuals displaced to camps and temporary shelters. The DMC also reported that flooding affected the electrical supply and caused extensive damage to shelters, schools, roads and other infrastructure, further complicating the delivery of emergency relief supplies.
On December 1, U.S. Ambassador Robert O. Blake issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the floods. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through USAID/Sri Lanka to support U.N. agencies in the provision of shelter and emergency relief supplies to affected populations. USAID/OFDA staff in Washington, D.C., and Bangkok, Thailand, continued to monitor the situation in close coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Colombo and USAID/Sri Lanka.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Complex Emergency, 10-06-2006
As of January 2007, more than two decades of conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam separatist group had caused at least 65,000 deaths, according to humanitarian monitoring organizations. According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), renewed conflict displaced approximately 215,000 people, primarily in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, from April 2006 to early February 2007. As of February 2007, approximately 315,000 individuals remained displaced from earlier stages of the conflict, in addition to 150,000 people who still lacked permanent shelter as a result of the December 2004 tsunami. As of November 2006, 15,800 people had fled Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu state in southern India.
On October 6, 2006, U.S. Ambassador Robert O. Blake re-declared a disaster due to the ongoing conflict and resulting internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka and requested additional OFDA support. As of January 2007, OFDA had allocated more than $1.2 million in FY 2007 to support protection, logistics, and coordination and information management activities. This funding augmented $1.1 million provided by OFDA for humanitarian programs beginning in FY 2006.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses in Sri Lanka, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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