Sri Lanka: Severe flooding affects 1 million people

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Cologne. Continuous heavy rains since 26 December and torrential rains since 9 January have led to land slides and severe flooding in Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Center about one million people are affected. Especially the population living in the central highlands and in the eastern provinces of the island state is threatened by the flooding. By now, these areas can hardly be reached overland. 18 people already lost their lives according to local authorities; about 200,000 were forced to run for cover in emergency shelters as their homes were made uninhabitable or even destroyed by the floods. Malteser International, the relief service of the Order of Malta for worldwide humanitarian aid, has already started to prepare and distribute warm meals in the villages and emergency shelters located in the Batticaloa District. Simultaneously, the teams hand out bottles with clean drinking water. The distribution of hygiene articles, clothing, water filters, and household items like cooking pots and cutlery is being prepared. The Federal Foreign Office of Germany supports the emergency relief of Malteser International with 90,000 Euros. Walter Berier, Malteser International Programme Coordinator, reports from Batticaloa: “In Batticaloa City, houses are up to two metres under water.” The flooding has also directly affected staff members of Malteser International. Berier continues: “There is barely any drinking water left, it is not possible to buy bottled water, the people are in dire need for water filters – the problem is continuously increasing.” Considering the dramatic situation – the number of the affected people in Sri Lanka is fivefold the number of people affected by the flooding in Australia – Malteser International kindly asks for donations. Attention editors: Walter Berier, Programme Coordinator in Batticaloa/Sri Lanka, is available for interviews. Contact: 0049-221-9822-155 First pictures are available for download:  http://php.malteser.de/cpg133/thumbnails.php?album=290. Join our network of relief and donate: Donation Account 2020122; Pax-Bank Köln, von-Werth-Str. 25-27, D-50670 Köln, Germany, Sort Code : 370 60 193; IBAN : DE93 3706 0193 0002 0201 22; BIC: GENODED1PAX Reference : “Flood relief Sri Lanka” Or Online!