US ROTC Cadets & Pacific Command Disaster Experts cleaning flood damaged schools in Sri Lanka

The US Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and the US Embassy’s Pacific Command (PACOM) Augmentation Team are cleaning and repairing flood damage at schools in the Kalutara District in coordination with CMSE, the Disaster Management Centre and local officials.

The United States announced Rs. 350 million ($ 2.3 million) in humanitarian assistance from the US Government and people to help victims of floods and landslides in Sri Lanka. The assistance will be provided through the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since 2001, OFDA has provided approximately Rs. 19 billion ($ 125 million) in disaster assistance and disaster risk reduction to Sri Lanka.

In addition to the relief supplies, disaster experts from USAID/OFDA and the Civil-Military Support Element (CMSE) attached to the US Embassy are helping organise US response efforts, conducting damage assessments, and working with Sri Lankan Government officials and humanitarian partners to evaluate needs on the ground.