IOM is supporting the Sri Lankan Government's Disaster Management
Committee in responding to the humanitarian needs of over 330,000
flood-affected residents in Ampara district.

Over 28,000 people are now internally displaced and living in 48
schools functioning as IDP camps. Another 26,800 people are
reportedly sheltering with family members, friends and neighbours
after being driven from their homes by the floods.

Following a request from the local authorities, IOM is targeting
an estimated 20,000 people in camps in the four worst affected
sub-districts. IOM staff from Ampara, Batticaloa and other
sub-offices will carry out needs assessments in the camps this
week.

Immediate action will include the bulk purchase of milk for
young children in the camps. Subject to availability, this will
come from community-run Milk Chilling Centres built and equipped by
IOM under an EU-funded Community Livelihood Support Programme in
the area.

The floods, which may have destroyed at least half of this
season's harvest in the Eastern province, will also have a severe
impact on mainly agricultural livelihoods in an economically
depressed region still suffering from the effects of the 2004
tsunami and the now ended conflict.

IOM has therefore made an initial allocation of EUR 50,000 from
the Community Livelihood Support Programme to provide paddy and
mixed crop seeds and tools to displaced farmers to help them to
immediately replant as soon as the waters recede.

For more information please contact:

Richard Danziger

Tel: +94 (0)11 5325300

E-mail: "mailto:rdanziger@iom.int" target="" title=
"">rdanziger@iom.int

or

Nicola Rounce

IOM Colombo

Tel: +94 (0)11 5325300

E-mail: "mailto:nrounce@iom.int" target="" title="">nrounce@iom.int