Relief stalls as Tsunami victims battle flood waters

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 January 2005, 08:09 GMT]
Relief supply to hundreds of thousands of Tsunami victims in the districts of Amparai and Batticaloa has been hampered due to flood caused by torrential rain since Friday. Several hundreds of victims have been evacuated from camps now under flood to safer areas Lorries transporting relief materials to these districts are unable to proceed to their destinations as main roads are under flood at several places.

Relief supply to Amparai district by government agencies and humanitarian organizations has been completely cut off, District Secretariat sources said.

Social Service department officials and volunteers have made urgent appeals to the authorities concerned to provide assistance to airlift urgent relief materials to victims.

Heavy monsoon rain lashing in the province has added more sufferings to the Tsunami victims sheltered in makeshift camps and damaged schools. Relief workers are battling to recover bodies still trapped under the collapsed building and debris in the midst of rain, sources said.

Several hundred families in Irrakamam and Amparai have been evacuated to safer places, social service sources said.

Victims in shelters suffer due to flood at a time when they are still not provided with basic facilities such mats, bed sheets, lanterns, candlelight, good drinking water and kitchen utensils, volunteers said.