COLOMBO (SE): The last contact T. Usha had with his cousin was on November 29, when his cousin and another relative left home to look for people trapped by floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.
“He said there are children still stuck in the landslide, so he’ll go and help them and come back soon,” Usha, from Rambuk-ela village, in the Alawathugoda police division of Kandy district, said on November 30. The whereabouts of both are still unknown, according to a UCAN report.
As of December 1, some 355 people had been killed across the country with another 366 still missing, according to a situation report released by Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre.
Sri Lankan president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, was quoted by the media as saying it was the “most challenging natural disaster” in the country’s history.
Officials said that about a third of the country was without electricity or running water as a state of emergency was announced in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which brushed the island nation’s eastern coast on November 28 but has since moved away from the country.
As of December 1, some 355 people had been killed across the country with another 366 still missing, according to a situation report released by Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre
The districts with the highest number of deaths include areas under the dioceses of Kandy, Badulla, and Batticaloa.
The extent of the damage in the worst-affected central province was only just being revealed as relief workers cleared roads blocked by mudslides and fallen trees, they said.
Over a million people from some 318,250 families are estimated to have been affected. The government has set up 1,529 temporary safety centres to shelter 209,568 people displaced across the country.
The government scrambled on November 30 to provide urgent relief to the affected families. It called for international aid and used military helicopters to reach people stranded by flooding and landslides across the country.
Neighbouring India was among the first to join the rescue effort, rushing emergency relief and helicopters from its naval vessel, INS Vikranth, currently berthed in Colombo port.
Caritas Sri Lanka swiftly responded to the crisis. All 13 Caritas centres Caritas Sri Lanka, covering all Catholic dioceses in the country have been operating 24/7 to provide relief. Priests have also kept many churches open to shelter affected individuals
According to RVA News, Caritas Sri Lanka swiftly responded to the crisis. All 13 Caritas centres Caritas Sri Lanka, covering all Catholic dioceses in the country have been operating 24/7 to provide relief. Priests have also kept many churches open to shelter affected individuals.
In a press statement on November 30, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith urged Catholics to join the rescue and relief efforts in every possible way, UCAN reported.
“We request our priests, religious, brothers, sisters, and lay leaders to work together with all the societies and organisations to provide relief to the people who are helpless at this moment,” Cardinal Ranjith said.
Tthe cardinal visited and distributed dry rations to flood-displaced families sheltered at St. Mary’s College, Tudella, and St. Joseph’s College, Kanuwana.
Bishop Jude Silva of the worst-affected Diocese of Badulla asked priests to cancel all outstation Holy Masses and programs until the situation improved and directed that all communities and formation houses conduct a Holy Hour to pray for protection and strength for all who are affected.
We request our priests, religious, brothers, sisters, and lay leaders to work together with all the societies and organisations to provide relief to the people who are helpless at this moment
Malcom Cardinal Ranjith
Bishop Antony Wyman Croos of Ratnapura visited the flood victims at the Gurugalle Catechetical Centre on November 30 and distributed cooked food to affected families.He also listened to their concerns and offered words of comfort and hope.
Father Samantha Thushara, parish priest of Holy Cross Church in Gampaha, sent word that many houses had been severely affected by the floods.
“Many families are displaced, especially near the Bandiyamulla church. We urgently need dry rations,” Father Thusara observed.
“As one family, let us look after one another and bring strength to those who need it most,” Caritas Sri Lanka said in a message posted on social media on November 30.
