US government donates USD 100,000 for flood relief in North-East

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 December 2008, 11:35 GMT]
The United States Government will provide $100,000 for emergency relief to assist people affected by the flooding in the North and the East, said a press release issued by the Embassy of he United States of America. The US donation will be used for non-food relief items and targeted to victims in Jaffna and in the Vanni, where particularly serious flooding has occurred in recent days. Ambassador Blake requested funds from the US government after Major General Hettiarachchi of the Disaster Management Centre asked for American assistance, the press release said hinting that the aid would be channeled

Major General (retd.) Gamini Hettiarachchi, who heads the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) retired from the Sri Lanka Army in January 2006 after 32 years of service with three highest gallantry awards for combat against the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE).

The DMC is yet to announce how it is going to channel the aid intended for civilians in Vanni.

Full text of the press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo follows:

US Government donates $100,000 for flood relief

Colombo, December 2, 2008 – The United States Government will provide $100,000 for emergency relief to assist people affected by the flooding in the North and the East. This action comes in response to a request for assistance to USAID from the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre.

The US donation will be used for non-food relief items and targeted to victims in Jaffna and in the Vanni, where particularly serious flooding has occurred in recent days. UNICEF will administer the donation in coordination with local authorities. Ambassador Blake requested funds from the US government after Major General Hettiarachchi of the Disaster Management Centre asked for American assistance.

“The United States Government is eager to respond to this request for assistance to provide relief to the thousands of Sri Lankans who have been displaced and affected by this disaster,” said Robert O. Blake, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka. “With more than 400,000 individuals in the North affected by terrible flooding, it is imperative that we respond quickly to this situation and work together to keep people safe.”

In Jaffna, 10,000 families have been displaced to 135 camps because of the floods. More than 2000 houses have been destroyed and another 6,000 have been partially damaged by the flooding. In the Vanni area, more than 21,000 families have been affected, with 1000 permanent homes and 6,000 temporary shelters damaged.