The High-Level Committee for Foreign Relief Aid (Supplies) Coordination (HL-FRAC), appointed to ensure the effective distribution of foreign relief supplies among the disaster-affected population, convened for its sixth session at the Disaster Management Centre on Wednesday (31 Dec).
According to a Defence Ministry statement, during the meeting, media personnel were briefed on the foreign humanitarian assistance received as well as the services rendered by foreign relief teams involved in disaster response efforts.
It was revealed that Sri Lanka has received Humanitarian assistance from 22 foreign countries and the World Food Programme (WFP) to support communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
The President established the HL-FRAC Committee to ensure the proper management, coordination, and effective distribution of foreign relief supplies among the affected population. The Committee, chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), has convened on several occasions and taken decisive measures to ensure complete transparency and maximum efficiency throughout the relief operations.
Accordingly, all foreign assistance arriving in the country through airports and seaports is being securely and systematically stored at the Orugodawatta warehouse complex. The mechanism to distribute these supplies in a timely and efficient manner to disaster-affected communities across the island has now been further strengthened through the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC).
During the sixth session of the Committee, it was revealed that relief assistance received includes essential food items, medicines, and a range of key technical equipment used for disaster management operations.
The international community has also provided specialized civil engineering equipment, including bridge restoration resources, along with vehicles required for transportation and logistics. In addition, special tents and protective shelters have been supplied to provide safe temporary accommodation for those who have lost their homes. Household items, clothing, and other supplies essential for helping affected people resume their daily lives have also been received.
Country-wise received relief support:
| S/No | Item Category | Countries Received From | Amount Received | Amount Issued | Number of Locations Issued To (District Secretariat / Other Institutions) |
| 1. | Food Items | Australia / Canada / India / Israel / Maldives / Pakistan / Oman / Russia / Turkey / United Arab Emirates / Singapore / Denmark / United Kingdom | 2161.72 Ton | 1800 Ton | D.S.O. – 20 |
| 2. | Main equipment | China / Switzerland / Japan / Israel / Pakistan / Russia / World Food Program | 270 Qty | 210 Qty | D.S.O. – 09 |
| 3. | Civil engineering items (Bridge) | India | 55.5 Ton | 55.5 Ton (4 Qty) | Road Development Authority |
| 4. | Vehicles | India | 7 | 5 | Disaster Management Centre (02 large trucks, 03 small trucks, 01 water bowser, 01 garbage truck) |
| 5. | Medicines | India / Myanmar / Bangladesh / Israel / Pakistan | 26.5 Ton | 26.5 Ton | Ministry of Health |
| 6. | Tentages/Tarpaulins | China / Pakistan / Russia / Japan / World Food Program / Germany / Netherlands | 14750 Qty | 13550 Qty | D.S.O. – 17 |
| 7. | Household Equipment | China / Japan / United Arab Emirates / World Food Program / Israel / Germany | 9761 Qty | 8515 Qty | D.S.O. – 18 |
| 8. | Clothing | France/ India / Maldives / Japan / Canada / Australia / Oman / Qatar / Singapore | 23.2 Ton | 15 Ton | D.S.O. – 12 |
| 9. | Miscellaneous | Australia / Israel/ Pakistan / Singapore | 3.4 Ton | 2.2 Ton | D.S.O. – 07 |
The Defence Ministry statement further said that the Government has taken all necessary measures to ensure that all humanitarian assistance is distributed swiftly to disaster-affected communities with the highest level of transparency. Information on the distribution process is reported every three days to the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office, and the updated information released by these institutions is made available to the media.
The distribution of humanitarian aid from the Orugodawatta warehouse complex has been further streamlined through District Secretariats, based on requests submitted by Divisional Secretaries. Storage capacity at the complex has been expanded, security strengthened, and all required support has been provided to the staff to ensure smooth operations. The Deputy Minister of Defence also emphasized that necessary steps will be taken to conduct a formal audit of the entire distribution process in the future.
Furthermore, from the very outset of the disaster, several countries came forward to provide human resource assistance to Sri Lanka. Accordingly, relief teams comprising 89 specialists from seven (07) countries are currently contributing actively to relief operations in the country. These teams have worked in close coordination with local relief agencies, engaging in search and rescue operations, providing rapid medical assistance to affected persons, and supporting emergency construction activities.
In addition, utilizing modern technologies, these teams have carried out a range of essential services, including monitoring disaster situations, mapping affected areas, and providing water purification services to ensure access to safe drinking water. Some of the relief teams, upon the successful completion of their mission, have now left the country.
Country-wise received service support:
| Country | Service | Total | ||||
| Search and Rescue | Medical and hospital assistance | Construction and Bridge renovation | Geological observation and mapping | Water sources refining/ cleaning | ||
| India | 80 | 85 | 48 | 213 | ||
| Japan | 27 | 27 | ||||
| UAE | 76 | 76 | ||||
| Pakistan | 47 | 47 | ||||
| China | 11 | 11 | ||||
| Italy | 07 | 07 | ||||
| Switzerland | 08 | 08 | ||||
| Total | 203 | 112 | 48 | 18 | 08 | 389 |
The Deputy Minister of Defence, on behalf of the President and the entire Sri Lankan nation, expressed his gratitude and sincere appreciation to all foreign countries and their people for their assistance to support Sri Lanka at a time of great need.
He also appreciated the Sri Lankan expatriate community, who selflessly extended their support and made immense sacrifices for their motherland. (Newswire)
