The EU Office in Colombo announced yesterday (2) that the European Union has allotted €200,000 (more than 65 million Sri Lankan rupees) to offer emergency humanitarian assistance to families affected by the recent widespread flooding.
According to an EU statement, 77,000 people in some of the hardest-hit areas, mainly in the provinces of Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Western, and Northwestern, will benefit from the aid.
With the help of this EU funding, the Sri Lanka Red Cross will be able to provide aid in the form of multipurpose cash grants, drinking water bottles, clothing, and hygiene products for households. First aid is being given by mobile medical camps to people stranded by the floodwaters, and cleaning operations are being conducted to stop the dengue mosquito population from reproducing.
“Flood assistance from the EU totaling Rs 65 million”
The money comes from the EU’s total donation to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) (IFRC).
Due to an intensification of the southwest monsoon, severe flash floods and mudslides have been caused in several regions of Sri Lanka since mid-May. This unprecedented rainfall has been recorded. The severe weather severely damaged over 2000 homes, as well as livelihoods and infrastructure. In addition to losing a great deal of personal belongings, over 15,000 farmers are thought to have lost their crops, and a great deal of people have also lost their daily source of income. Additionally, drinking water sources have been tainted by the floodwater.
