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The European Commission is allocating Euro 300 000 (Rs. 51 million)in humanitarian funding to Sri Lanka to bring emergency assistance to communities affected by the recentfloods.
“This contribution from the EU will allow our partners on the ground to provide relief to the most-impacted families. Thisis an expression of solidarity from the European people to the people of Sri Lanka,” said Christos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. The EU-funded assistancewill focus on the most pressing needs of the affected families in the immediate aftermath of the floods, including access to clean water and sanitation facilities, the provision of essential household items, as well as emergency shelter.
The EU funding is being made available via the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) through its Small Scale Response mechanism.
Additionally, the Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre has activated its Copernicus mapping service upon request from the World Food Programme. The Copernicus maps will focus on the Southern and Western areas of Sri Lanka that have been affected by the rains.
Over 25 and 26 May, heavy rains have been affecting several Southern and Western areas of Sri Lanka, especially the districts of Kalutara and Ratnapura, triggering floods and landslides that have caused massive destruction and loss of lives.
According to the National Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka, as of 1 June, 203 people have been killed, 95 people have gone missing, more than 73,400 people have been displaced and relocated in 336 safe locations. Over 9,600 houses have been partially damaged or fully destroyed.
