UN says food and medicine needed after floods displace thousands of people in Sri Lanka

2011-01-12 08:50:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (BNO NEWS) - Floods and torrential rains have affected nearly a million people in Sri Lanka, the United Nations humanitarian office reported on Tuesday.

The total number of affected people, based on government figures, stands at nearly 863,800 while at least 13 people have been killed and another person remains missing. More than 127,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) pledged to provide 735 metric tons of food assistance to feed approximately 400,000 of those affected. "Especially, food and medicine should reach the victims without delay or failure," said President Mahinda Rajapaksa at an emergency meeting, as reported by a local newspaper.

Sri Lanka's health ministry has sent five medical teams to the eastern and Polonnaruwa areas to control possible outbreaks of diseases. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) will cover the costs of mobile clinics established to assist internally displaced persons.

Torrential rainfall has been affecting Sri Lanka since December 26, mainly in the eastern and central parts of the country.

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Canada and Australia can expect a few thousand more "refugees" using the floods as a pretext for refugee claims.