Crisis response summary: Sri Lanka - in anticipation of flooding

This event was cause for concern, given that it took place prior to the start of the annual Northeast Monsoon season, which was forecasted by Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology to receive 10% higher-than-average rainfall. Additionally, major reservoirs had filled much earlier than in previous years, and trends were similar to the previous year, which had one of the worst recorded flood disasters in Sri Lanka. On 18 November 2015, three agencies alerted the Start Fund, noting the limited funds and capabilities of the District Disaster Management Units, that vulnerable groups were left out of blanket distributions in evacuation centres, and that an anticipatory activation would ensure a more inclusive response.

On 27 November, 8 days and 19.75 hours after the Start Fund alert, £105,915 was awarded to Handicap & Oxfam (consortium project) and World Vision, which focused on addressing needs related to Protection (awareness raising on disaster mitigation) and WaSH (pre-positioning and distribution of Hygiene and Shelter kits).

Agencies experienced several challenges during implementation. Despite conducting pre-crisis activities, both projects operated in several areas that were already submerged in water, which slowed coordination and transportation. These conditions caused delays to some of Handicap & Oxfam’s household visits and also caused some households to relocate post-assessment, delaying the finalisation of beneficiary numbers. World Vision also experienced difficulty procuring certain key commodities (tarpaulins, treated mosquito nets) locally, requiring suppliers to procure items internationally.

This project reached 6,722 people (61% female, 39% male), with £105,914, 5% of the total affected population and 722 more people than planned. Agencies targeted vulnerable households who were (or soon would be) most affected by the flooding, with particular attention paid to female-headed households, households with many children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Children under 18 (35%) and people over 50 (22%) together made up 57% of people reached.