Italy to help rebuild disaster prone areas

The Italian Government will provide a Rs. 750 million Aid package to Sri Lanka to rebuild and develop areas which have been prone to natural and man-made disasters and to improve technical efficiency of the disaster management process.

The Italians have agreed to help Sri Lanka in their disaster management efforts. This is after the recent visit of Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe.

Accordingly an agreement was signed by Sri Lanka with the Civil Defence Organisation of Italy, in the presence of President Giorgio Napolitano.

Under the agreement this organisation has agreed to furnish Rs.450 million for development projects initiated by Disaster Management Centre and Rs.300 million as technical aid. Ministry sources said the money would be utilised for development as well as technical aid programmes for officials in sectors such as disaster management, meteorology, nation building and research, irrigation, coastal development and geological survey and mines sector.

According to these sources the said Rs. 450 million had been granted on a special request by the Minister to start flood control projects for flood-prone areas such as Batticaloa, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla. Minister Samarasinghe on his visit had also taken steps to brief the Italian President, Foreign Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding the situation in Sri Lanka.

The Minister held extensive discussions regarding the CFA abbrogation and Human Rights situation in view of eliminating misconceptions. (Daily News)

World Social Forum of Sri Lanka 2008

World Social Forum of Sri Lanka 2008

An incredibly uplifting forum was held on Saturday 26^th January in Vihara Mahadevi Park, Colombo, coinciding with other actions and mobilisations around the world. The central theme was that ‘Another world is possible!’ It was open to anyone as a free space for reflexive thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and an interlinking for effective action (WSF 2008 Programme). Many groups and movements came together, including the Green Movement to unite on three fronts:

Ø to affirm our opposition to the war that has torn apart our country for almost 25 years, militarising society and traumatising communities

Ø to affirm our opposition to the economic policies that burden our people raising the price of essential goods to unaffordable levels, destroying livelihoods and impoverishing the poor

Ø to resist capitalist globalisation and the development model that imposes on our country bringing enormous costs to the environment and the poor and benefits only a tiny minority (WSF 2008 Programme).

Many organisations gathered to share information and had creative workshops spreading awareness. There were so many themes, such as women and peace, the housing crisis, the rising cost of living, protecting livelihoods, the conflict, environmental costs of development and peacebuilding. The media unit of the Green Movement set up a tent where 9 short films and videos were screened. These videos touched upon crucial issues such as the oil crisis, global warming, energy efficiency and work that our organisation has been involved with. We had a very tangible presence, with huge banners created by our talented photographers capturing scenes of Sri Lanka strung out across a massive banyan tree and the stadium. Our green brigade volunteers were there, cycling through the stadium, park and main road with flags and banners with powerful messages. We also had the pleasure of a group of veddha’s with whom we work, who joined us for the day, playing music and doing a cultural performance outside the tent. It was a very successful day that created much positive feedback on the work we are doing and the work we will continue to do with likeminded people.

How to prioritise Global Warming amongst a myriad of other critical issues in Sri Lanka?

There has been so much focus and reports written, meetings held and world conferences to address the threats that are coming with global warming. It is clear that the world is changing drastically and measures need to be taken now, but how on earth do global citizens address this massive challenge in reality? How can Sri Lanka begin to tackle this when all our resources are going into the war? We are already facing unpredictable weather and the destabilisation of our natural resources upon which people rely on for their livelihoods and very existence. We are seeing the loss of lands and homes due to an increase in destructive natural phenomena, widespread loss of livelihoods and a general deterioration of health and increased disease. It is very saddening to know that most of this deterioration in our beautiful environment has been forced upon us by inappropriate development ideals and pressures to become more like the west. And so the high rise buildings, air con super centres, mega hydro electric schemes and coal power parks keep growing. There is mass deforestation replaced with completely unsuitable reforestation programmes using resource hungry plant varieties which leach the land. The list is endless. How to we tackle this? The buzzwords circling the big meetings in big hotels are all about diversification, mitigation and adaptation but what is it that people themselves feel they can do? What can they do when they have so many other priorities on a daily basis? Bring the veddha’s to the table, the fisherfolk, the farmers and paddy cultivators and see what they have to say. It can be tackled, we have the resources and the awareness to move things along, but it is almost like a change of mindset that is required, to make people stop and think about the consequences of all the actions. We at the Green Movement believe that this change of mindset can happen in Sri Lanka, and that we must try to live in accordance with the middle path in a peaceful and mindful way, to change our materialistic and unsustainable life patterns. Of course this is certainly not the only way but it is a good foundation upon which to work on.

DMIP activities this week

The Green Movement have been involved with the rehabilitation of families in the Newara Eliya district affected by last January’s landslide. People of Hanguranketha and Walapane have been living in temporary shelters with basic amenities and in cramped conditions for over a year now. The DS deemed the land where they lived unsafe and promised to find suitable lands for them to be resettled. They found new land for 192 families from Hanguranketha, as of 31^st December, and most families have started to move. One member of our staff went to assess their progress as well as to investigate the new site. What he found was not encouraging. It is simply a piece of land, with demarcated plots that will not suffice for all their agricultural and farming needs, let alone for them to live easily in. There are no facilities in place and people have had to clear the land themselves and take what materials they have from the camp to the new site. Being a strong lobbying and campaigning organisation, the GMSL plan to challenge the government to find alternative lands, as it seems this one is even more unsafe than where they originated from. There is no point in settling people in a place that puts people at even more risk from landslides than before. We ask that the newly resettled retired soldiers nearby could perhaps swap with the families, as the soldiers have ample land that they will not even use. As well as their right to safe lands of course, they require their basic needs to be met, and the GMSL are there with a suitable WATSAN project to be delivered.

Political climate

The ceasefire officially came to an end on Wednesday 16^th January, and the island is already suffering the consequences amid intensified and targeted killings. Civilians will pay an even heavier price and we must protect them at this time. With the annulment the task of humanitarian workers will become even more challenging. They must also be protected and supported. What will become of international funding? What about human rights? If everyone pulls out what will become of our people?

Situation Updates- Trinco and Ampara

Trincomalee District

Just as resettled families were trying to cultivate their lands again, the recent heavy rain and flooding has affected most areas and set back people’s livelihoods once more. The level of assistance for returnees will need to be re-assessed after another setback, as they will be requiring external help until the next harvest season (ReliefWeb: 10^th January). The Green Movement are hoping to work alongside Solidar in helping resettled communities recover their livelihood patterns in this area as soon as possible.

Ampara District

The government have given relief to 70,442 families in the last 3 days, since January 1^th. The weather has improved and water levels are now receding, making the number of families sheltering in temporary camps decrease from 2,820 to 718. Only the Adadiwembe DS division is still affected (Daily News: January 15^th).

Flood Situation of Ampala District

Situation of Ampala District

7-day weather forecast for Batticaloa

7-day weather forecast for Batticaloa

Floods displace more than 30,000

Floods displace more than 30,000 in east Sri Lanka

Monsoon flooding has forced more than 30,000 people in eastern Sri Lanka from their homes, with many taking refuge in temporary shelters like huts, schools and mosques, officials said on Thursday.

Flooding and ensuing mass displacement are common in Sri Lanka, fuelled by monsoon rains. In December, 175,000 people took refuge in welfare centres and temples in the eastern and central parts of the country following flash floods.

The latest flooding hit the eastern district of Ampara, a largely flat agricultural area with a coastline that was hammered by the 2004 tsunami and where infrastructure has long been neglected because of a protracted war between the state and Tamil Tigers, after heavy rains began on Monday.

"Due to the activation of the northeastern monsoon, 31,042 people have been displaced and of that 10,869 people are in 20 IDP camps," said H. Dharmapriya, assistant director at the National Disaster Management Centre, referring to shelters for Internally Displaced People.

"The water levels are receding and there are no heavy rains as such at the moment," he added, saying one third of the displaced were in temporarily shelters while the rest were housed with relatives.

The Meteorology Department forecast continued rainfall in coming days, but said it would not be heavy.

Flooding and drought are cyclical in Sri Lanka, where a southern monsoon batters the island between May and September, and a northeastern monsoon runs from December to February.

In early December 20,000 people were displaced in Ampara as a depression over the Bay of Bengal compounded monsoon rains.

(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal, Editing by Simon Gardner and Sanjeev Miglani)

Distribution started for affected people by the flood

Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCiSL) have been started distribution for mainly in 4 D.S.Divisions (Akkaraipattu, Aalayadivembu, Addalaichenai & Thirukkovil) in Ampara district.

Distribution started on 8th January (Tuesday)
Akkaraipattu D.S.Division - 750 Bed sheets and 750 Plastic Mats
Aalayadivembu D.S.Division - 750 Bed sheets and 750 Plastic Mats
Addalaichenai D.S.DIvision - 750 Bed sheets and 750 Plastic Mats
Thirukkovil D.S.Division - 750 Bed sheets and 750 Plastic Mats

To distribute from Thursday/Friday (as the stuff is on the way)
50,000 Packets of Samaposha (Supplementary food for children)
3,800 Sets of rubber gloves
780 Mops
180 Brooms

Disaster Management and Information Programme

Disaster Management and Information Programme

Green Movement of Sri Lanka

The Green Movement of Sri Lanka (GMSL) is a consortium of 144 civil society organizations in 22 districts in Sri Lanka, with collaboration from 78 international organizations, universities, and government ministries and UN agencies. The focus of work centres on environmental conservation, effective resource management and sustainable development.

Established in 1998, GMSL is motivated to achieve natural resource based sustainable development through empowerment of the poorest and sustainable livelihoods, focusing on current environmental problems and providing solutions utilizing collective efforts. Activities launched by GMSL with people’s participation envisage the emergence of vibrant, environmentally-friendly communities throughout the island. In 2003 the Executive Board of GMSL expanded its focus by integrating disaster management into the sustainable development activities of the network. Based on this decision and collaboration with the Disaster and Development Centre (DDC) of Northumbria University, United Kingdom, the Disaster Management and Information Programme (DMIP) was established in April 2004 as the disaster management unit of GMSL. The purpose of the Disaster and Development Centre is to develop through research, teaching and learning the knowledge and skills to address hazards, disaster and complex emergencies from the prospective of different development debates and experience. This field of inquiry and associated expertise, by necessity non disciplinary, is guided by the needs of civil society and institutions in addressing vulnerability and disaster response. The DDC explores the association of sustainable development with improved human security through risk reduction, resilience, emergency response systems, and longer term recovery strategies both locally and in an international context. DDC activities include peace building, conflict resolution, infectious decease risk management, labour and reconstruction, livelihood protection, psychosocial programming and trauma treatment projects in Africa and Asia.

Disaster Management and Information Programme (DMIP) is not another project to support to attract funding or support. DMIP aims at establishing a creative space for government agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions and international agencies to strength the coordination of humanitarian emergency mitigation, planning, assistance, management and interventions in Sri Lanka and ensure better preparation for, as well as rapid well-coordinated response to complex humanitarian emergencies and sudden and natural disasters. There are three main objectives to DMIP


1. To establish a national networking group on disaster management and information in Sri Lanka comprising relevant government agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions and international agencies.

2. To conduct disaster information gathering and research, education and training, develop disaster risk management and early warning systems and interventions to respond disasters and provide relief to disaster victims.

3. To formulate, implementation. Monitoring and evaluate policies on disaster management and sustainable development in Sri Lanka.


The disaster risk reduction framework of GMSL invites all the relevant government agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions and international agencies to a common space, which will elaborate the following activity frames


1. Disaster information gathering and research on disaster management and sustainable development

2. Education and training programmes on disaster risk reduction

3. Disaster risk management and early warning

4. Disaster response and relief

5. Policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation







Contacts

Disaster Management and Information Programme,
Green Movement of Sri Lanka,
No9, 1st Lane,
Wanatha Road, Gangodawila,
Nugegoda,
Sri Lanka.

Telephone: +94-115-516511 / 4305274
Tel / Fax: +94-112-817156
Email: dmip@greensl.net
Web: www.greensl.net

40,000 families affected by floods

40,000 families affected by floods in E Sri Lanka

Some 40,000 families have been affected by floods caused by incessant rains in the eastern district of Ampara, government officials said Monday.
Sunil Kannangara, the chief administrative officer in the district, said torrential rains have been falling in the district since Saturday.
Low-lying areas in Alayadiwembu, Pottuvil, Karathivu, Akkaraipattu, Sammanthurai and Thirukkovil are under four feet of water with most of the main roads becoming impassable.
"Floods are caused by difficulties in draining out rain water", Kannangara said, adding that some 63 families had been displaced.
Relief operations are already underway, he said.