Colombo – 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.

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For more information please contact: Richard Danziger, Tel: +94 (0)11 5325300, E-mail: rdanziger@iom.int or Nicola Rounce, IOM Colombo, Tel: +94 (0)11 5325300, E-mail: nrounce@iom.int