Relief measures for floods and landslides, in the face of COVID-19
Social distancing to be strictly implemented at relief centres
With several parts of the country hit by floods, landslides and gusty winds, authorities and residents face a double hurdle; battling COVID-19 and adverse weather conditions.
Disaster Management Centre ( DMC) Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili told the Sunday Times the biggest challenges were increasing the number of relief centres this year and mapping out a plan for necessary health standards that must be maintained in every relief centres.
“Meal preparations, practising hygiene and social distancing are of utmost importance in these centres. About 100 people were sheltered in a relief camp last year, and the number will be far less this year,” he said.
He said they had been preparing for this eventuality since the beginnign of the pandemic in March.
“Residents were instructed on proper evacuation processes while maintaining social distancing, and unlike the previous years where only people in relief centres were provided with food and other rations, this year we decided to grant relief packs or cooked food to all people affected by the monsoon,” he said.
At least seven deaths were reported, and more than 18,000 people were affected mainly in the Kegalle, Galle, Matara, Ratnapura, Matale, Kandy and Badulla districts.
The Galle district secretariat has identified 200 relief centres and 180 alternative centres for residents, in case of a major flood or landslide.
“We had to look for alternative centres as a response to the guidelines issued by health officials owing to the prevailing pandemic. A relief centre that used to hold around 150 people can now have only 75. This was a challenge because we had to find more safe places,” District Secretary Somarathna Vidhanapathirana said.
In the Ratnapura district, some 2,892 families in 193 grama niladhari divisions were affected due to the hostile weather. Some 230 families had sought refuge in 16 relief centres. Three people have died due to earth slips and drowning.
Ratnapura District Secretary Malani Lokupothagama told the Sunday Times, certain places had been identified to be used as relief centres ahead of the monsoon.
“In the wake of the pandemic there were a few families in the Ratnapura district who were advised to self-quarantine themselves in their homes, and in the event of a major flood we planned to allocate separate relief centres for these families,” she said.
According to her, Medical Health Officials (MOHs) and Public Health Officials (PHIs) had been appointed to the relief centres currently functioning in the district to help maintain proper health practices.
The grama niladhari officers had been allocated five million rupees and had been instructed to distribute it among the people as an initial compensation payment, Kegalle District Secretary Mahinda Weerasooriya told the Sunday Times.
Some 1,080 families in the Kegalle district had been affected with 619 houses being damaged and two deaths being reported. "But with the weather improving, no affected person has been sent to relief centres. However, dry rations are being distributed to the affected families,” Mr Weerasooriya said.
Matale District Secretary S.M.G.K. Perera said the district had been warned of possible landslides, if the rains continue.
“Not all divisions in our district are affected by floods or landslides. We have identified relief centres in each division, and given the pandemic, threat, social distancing has to be strictly followed. We have the option of sending some families to the nearest relief centre in the district,” he said.