Latest humanitarian snapshot highlights floods and landslides triggered by Roanu and the severe drought in Cambodia

SRI LANKA

Following the floods and landslides triggered by Tropical Storm Roanu, the President of Sri Lanka has established a special Environmental Relief Task Force to manage the impact of the disaster and to facilitate suitable living conditions for the affected people. As of 26 May, over 300,000 people are affected. Authorities confirmed 104 fatalities and over 21,000 people remain displaced. Bilateral assistance from several countries in the region continues to arrive to support the ongoing response.

On 29 May, the National Building Research Organisation issued an advisory that if the rainy weather conditions continue, people living near mountainous areas in Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle and Kalutara districts are at high risk of potential landslides. The Disaster Management Center has reportedly evacuated over 3,000 people from high risk areas.

BANGLADESH

As of 25 May, the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT) phase 1 joint needs assessment indicated that Tropical Storm Roanu affected 1.3 million people across 15 districts. Roanu left 27 people dead (12 women and 15 men) and displaced over 200,000 people. Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong and Barguna have the highest number of affected people. Shelter, sanitation and livelihood were identified as priorities.

CAMBODIA

Most of the 25 provinces of Cambodia are currently experiencing water shortages due to what is being considered the worst drought in about 50 years. According to the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, and Kampong Speu provinces are the worst affected, with around 2.5 million people (625,000 households) severely affected. Authorities have trucked water to 18 provinces and requested affected communities to restrict water use.

While the Government has not requested international assistance, it has called on the armed forces, civil servants, and Cambodian Red Cross to ensure that adequate water supplies are delivered to the affected areas. WFP, UNICEF and FAO are conducting a survey to assess the medium and long term needs related to the prolonged effects of El Niño.3

INDONESIA

Since 25 May, some 2,400 houses were flooded for several days in South Sulawesi, West Java and Banten provinces. There were no reported casualties or major damage. Local governments provided assistance to the affected people.

In another incident, flash floods, triggered by heavy rainfall on 22 May, killed six people in Subang District, West Java. An estimated 390 people remain displaced in IDP sites. The local government declared an emergency response for a week and provided basic relief assistance.4