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

AMDA’s joint relief team, comprising personnel from AMDA Sri Lanka, St. John Ambulance and AMDA Japan, has been working hard to help the people afflicted by the recent flood and landslide disaster in Sri Lanka. The monsoon downpours from late May have caused extensive damage in Sri Lanka’s southwest, where AMDA and its affiliates have conducted a range of aid activities including the provision of relief supplies and free medical treatment.



As of 08 June 2017, the team has reached Karadena, a village located in Ratnapura District. The flood water has receded and people’s lives have gradually been normalized. 

Schools affected by the flood have resumed classes at unaffected venues. AMDA provided school bags, water bottles and lunchboxes to approximately 400 pupils as many of them lost their belongings and school goods in turmoil. In addition, mosquito nets were provided to 50 households to counter the possible outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases. Likewise, medicine kits and first-aid boxes were restocked at local schools and other relevant facilities. The team is now trying to arrange additional aid goods to be delivered to locations that are yet to receive any assistance. The additional supplies will include school goods for 200 children and 50 mosquito nets.Upon receiving the goods, parents were relieved to see an exultant look on children’s faces. A mother said it gave her a ray of hope after losing everything they had in the calamity.

  

According to the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center (DMC), the death toll has reached 212 while 150 people were injured and 78 have been missing. The sum of afflicted population is estimated to be over 600,000, and 20,000plus buildings have been damaged (as of 08 June.)The district officials and community nurses reported that most of the evacuation shelters have started to close as many of the evacuees have returned to their homes. AMDA will keep an eye on the situation and will continue to provide assistance according to local needs.