The Sri Lanka floods leave 600.000 people displaced and as of June 5, a total of 212 deaths have been confirmed, and 79 remain missing, the Disaster Management Center of Sri Lanka said. The natural disaster is said to be the worst to hit the country in a decade, affecting 15 districts. Almost 8,500 houses were reported to be destroyed or damaged on May 30, 2017.
On May 31, the Amity Foundation, as a member of the international Christian relief network ACT Alliance and the Disaster Relief Committee of the China Charity Federation, pledged to give 1 million RMB in life-saving emergency aid to affected people in Sri Lanka. They also sent a team of disaster relief officers to assess the relief work with local partners on the ground, especially the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka.
Over the next two days, the Amity staff provided medical services in flood-affected areas --- Pahiyangala, Heenpandala, and Bulathsinhala. They then carried out post-disaster research and made a future medical assistance and supply project. From June 3 to 4, the disaster relief team built a medical camp near Galle area and provided medical and health services to affected people in the village of Baddegama. Lamps were distributed to Nivtigala village. Amity's medical staff at the medical camp in Baddegama gave medical services and supplement drugs mainly to people affected by urticaria, eczema and other skin diseases.
They also sent moisture-proof mattresses and pillows to a local school which functions as a temporary shelter. After further assessment on the need of daily necessities in three villages of the Matara area, Amity plans to distribute about 500 sets of cooking utensils to help the locals resume their daily life.
Edited and adapted with permission.
