Help for Sri Lanka: Interhelp prepares major operation after hurricane

Help for Sri Lanka: Interhelp prepares major operation after hurricane

The waves of terror are hitting high over Sri Lanka, where cyclone “Ditwah” has left a trail of destruction. With at least 130 deaths and many missing, the situation is dramatic. Almost 44,000 people were displaced from their homes and taken to emergency shelters. The images of starving people, many of them children, create a feeling of urgent need to provide help. Also the aid organization Interhelp is already preparing for an emergency aid mission.

Interhelp can look back on many years of experience, particularly through the operation after the flood in the Rhineland and the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. Interhelp Vice President Mahinda Nallanathan, who comes from Sri Lanka, reiterates the urgency of the situation. The organization plans to collect donations to bring overflowing food packages by boat to the hungry. Local coordinator Mangala Fernando is already negotiating prices for basic foodstuffs, as many towns are still cut off from the outside world.

The dramatic situation on site

The situation is getting worse as the storm not only claimed lives but also destroyed around 15,000 houses. Scores of people are trapped in their floodplains and rescue teams are struggling to reach them. In addition to international aid, the Sri Lankan government, which has already asked for support from abroad, is also taking action. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has appealed to diplomats for help, while India has responded by sending two airloads of aid and rations from a warship.

With the rains subsiding in most areas, the situation remains tense. However, there are fears that flood levels will rise again as they could exceed levels seen in 2016, when 71 people died. The social and health challenges in the country have already been great. In 2023, around 25.9% of the population lived below the poverty line, a situation that was further exacerbated by the economic crisis of 2022–2023. Many families were forced to drastically cut spending on health and education.

Providing help – solidarity is needed now

Interhelp, the first foreign organization to begin reconstruction in Sri Lanka after the tsunami, is once again mobilizing. Members of the organization work on a voluntary basis and rely on donations. They have already carried out numerous successful projects, including a clinical waste incineration plant and a wastewater treatment plant for a hospital in Sri Lanka. This shows the organization's great commitment to fighting the increasingly severe challenges.

In order to directly help those in need, donation options are provided:

The need in Sri Lanka shows once again how important solidarity and quick help are in times of crisis. Anyone who can should take part and make a contribution to support people in such difficult times. The time to act is now.