Flood Relief Still ‘Pending’

By Gazala Anver

Relief for flood damaged houses, crops and livestock in flood affected areas is still pending, as the flood assessment is yet to be completed, The Sunday Leader learns. However according to Deputy Director Early Warning, Disaster Management Unit, Pradeep Kodipilli, the Disaster Management Ministry had prior to the assessment already released Rs. 500 million to the District Secretariats. However none of this money has  reached the people.
Kinniya District Secretary, M. Mubarak said that the assessment will be completed by Monday. According to Mubarak, Kinniya has seen 150 houses fully damaged, and many others partially damaged, as well as destruction of 12,000 acres of paddy. Crops, roads and drainage systems have also been damaged. According to the Director of a local NGO, Kinniya Vision, A.R.M. Mohammed Saifullah, in both Kinniya and Muttur, the immediate relief of dry rations and cooked meals were both provided. In Kinniya, he said that the housing assessment has already been completed and the report has been submitted to higher authorities.
“For fully damaged houses the compensation is Rs. 50,000. The provision for crop damages is maximum Rs. 6000. The provision for paddy is Rs. 3000 per acre. The assessment report is ready, but nobody has given out the provisions yet.” A similar situation ensues in Muttur, he said, but the assessment is still being conducted.
Muttur District Secretary, N. Selvanayakam said that by next week the distribution of provisions should begin. According to the President, St. Johns Ambulance – Batticaloa District, Mohammed Mirasahibu, more than 85% of the paddy fields have been destroyed. “So far only food items have been provided. Property and paddy have been damaged. People are expecting assistance,” he said.
The Batticaloa District Secretariat meanwhile also confirmed that relief for houses and crops have not been given yet. While the emergency situation is over, with people provided dry rations and cooked meals by the government and NGOs, the return to normalcy is still pending, with lives on hold while assessments continue.