Posted by Sandy Hutchens
Thousands of Homes and Food Supplies Destroyed
Stouffville, ON, August 20, 2009 – Early inter-monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in northern Sri Lanka, affecting over 12,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Menik Farm, Vavuniya.
Heavy rains together with poor drainage have caused latrines to overflow, flooding thousands of temporary shelters, communal cooking areas and ruining food supplies.
Primary drinking sources have also been contaminated by sewage and mud clogging up the water filtration systems.
cbm’s partner organization, which has been feeding 11,400 IDPs in zone three of Menik Farm, has been asked by the government to provide an additional 2,000 people with cooked meals three times a day.
“In view of the dire needs of the people in the camps, cbm has agreed to provide additional food, however our budget is stretched to the limit,” says Ed Epp, Executive Director of cbm Canada.
cbm appeals to Canadians to respond to the emergency needs of these IDPs. Mothers, children, and people with disabilities are more vulnerable than ever to disease, malnutrition and resulting disability. The impact on these people is huge.
cbm’s partners have been very concerned about this impending disaster for quite some time,” says Epp who recently returned from visiting cbm’s partners and projects in Sri Lanka.
The inter-monsoon showers are a mild indication of what is to come when the northeast monsoon rains come in September – which can last up to three months, with threat of high velocity winds and even cyclonic activity on the Eastern coast that creates additional heavy weather.
More than 280,000 people have been crowded into camps with tents and temporary shelters since the government defeated the Tamil Tigers in northern Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war in mid May 2009.
With the generosity of Canadians, cbm continues to meet the ongoing needs of thousands of IDPS with disabilities, who require food supplements, shelter and medical care for Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable people.
cbm focuses on helping people with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. Now in its 101st year, cbm has 1,000 projects in 100 developing countries. Last year, cbm helped over 16 million people worldwide.