According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 24,400 houses were destroyed in all districts and another 26,200 were damaged. In the mountainous regions of Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya, landslides destroyed houses and cut off access to roads. Bridges, roads and telecommunication and power infrastructure were damaged.
UN says the most urgent needs are provision of clean water, including drainage and decontamination of flooded wells, the restoration of power supply and communications to isolated areas and health and sanitation. Many governments and international agencies responded immediately to the disaster needs. The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) announced a $944,00 assistance.
The LTTE sent four lorryloads of relief materials, including food, clothes, mats and roofing, from the Vanni. Tiger leaders Ravanan, Elilan and Anbarasu visited Kalutara and Ratnapura districts and delivered the materials directly to the flood victims.