More flood assistance from US

Monday, 14 February 2011 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The latest batch of U.S. Government aid to Sri Lankans affected by the floods was handed over to Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, by U.S. Ambassador for Sri Lanka Patricia A. Butenis at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Friday.

The supplies, which include 600 rolls of plastic sheeting and 1,000 mosquito nets, will be immediately distributed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to 6,000 families in flooded areas in the north and east to shelter them and help protect them from disease. So far this year, the U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided $1.1 million in emergency assistance in response to this disaster.

Handing over the consignment, Ambassador Butenis said, “The Government of Sri Lanka has taken significant steps to meet the needs of these families — providing food assistance in camps, dispatching health staff to provide care and prevent outbreaks of disease, and evacuating families in marooned villages, among numerous other initiatives. I applaud these efforts. The U.S. Government has done its part to contribute to this cause. This year to date, we have provided nearly $1.1 million dollars in immediate assistance in response to the floods. With these funds, more than 12,000 families have received emergency relief supplies, such as mats, soap, mosquito coils, and bed sheets. USAID has also provided emergency food assistance to families, dispatched boats to inundated areas to evacuate people and transport relief supplies, and supported volunteers to record the names and numbers of people affected.” In accepting the shipment, Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa said, “The US government has always been there for Sri Lanka in its time of need and helped us when we were in need of humanitarian assistance. We, in particular, appreciate America’s prompt action when we faced this flood disaster.