Seasonal monsoon rains coupled with the effects of Cyclone Roanu caused the worst flooding that Sri Lanka had experienced in the last 25 years. Floods and the resulting landslides damaged and destroyed buildings and infrastructure alike, leaving 160,000 people in the country’s western provinces displaced from their homes. Many sought refuge in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, but the lack of access to potable water left the health of many vulnerable populations at risk.
190,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED
5,822 HOMES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED
203 DEAD OR MISSING
In response to this crisis, GlobalMedic partnered with local organizations, Janathakshan and Sri Lankan Red Cross, to deliver a multi-pronged emergency water response. Alongside the Ministry of Disaster Management, the Rapid Response Team coordinated to determine the worst affected areas.
This response supported the clean water needs of more than 9,100 people. 3 AquaResponse3 Water Purification Systems were installed in the region’s largest IDP camps, each capable of purifying 680 litres of water per hour. 1,588 Families living outside of the camps received household water purification units to secure their access to clean water at home for up to a year. Finally, 96,000 Aquatab Water Purification Tablets, which can purify 10 litres of water per tablet, were distributed to support those who were in transit or living in remote areas.
