Association of Medical Doctors of ASIA, founded in 1984, Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 1995

The torrential monsoon rain which struck Sri Lanka’s southwest late last month has caused floods and landslides in the region, leaving 213 dead, 150 injured and 79 missing. The number of buildings damaged by the disaster has topped 20,000 and more than 600,000 people have been directly or indirectly affected (Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center [DMC] as of 05 June 2017.)




In response to this dire situation, AMDA Sri Lanka has been working together with St. John Ambulance and a local TV broadcasting station to carry out relief activities since 26 May. The joint relief has so far provided free medical treatment and aid goods to over 1,200 people in Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Kegalle. The team has mobilized two ambulances (one donated from Japan) and trucks to transfer critically-ill patients and deliver relief supplies.

From AMDA Headaquarters in Japan, one coordinator and one nurse has left for Sri Lanka on 07 June to join the mission. The flood water has gradually receded after two weeks, but still now a large number of people have been forced to live in shelters. It is feared that worsening of sanitary conditions could trigger health problems due to prolonged evacuation life.