Heavy rains brought by a strong monsoon poured over Sri Lanka for more than a week. Houses, roads, and farmlands were flooded across the country and many residents were forced to evacuate. According to the local authority, several hundreds houses in 12 wards have been damaged by flooding and landslides and over 50,000 people (1,473 households) have fled their homes (as of October 6, 2023).

The full extent of the damage has not yet been revealed. However, anticipating further damage, A-PAD Sri Lanka dispatched a search and rescue team to Matara Province, located in southern Sri Lanka, on October 7.

The team consists of nine volunteers who all participated in swiftwater rescue training in the past. A needs assessment was conducted upon arriving in the affected region. The team is preparing to provide food and medical supplies to isolated villages. 

A-PAD Sri Lanka has so far conducted a variety of rescue drills, including those involving water disasters, in cooperation with civil-military forces. We operate with the principle of quickly and accurately understanding the local situation in mind.

This deployment is A-PAD Sri Lanka rescue team’s first mission. The team will continue coordinating with various stakeholders and providing relief activities.