Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan man, M.K. Ahula, who lost seven members of his family, stands amid the ruins in Galle, which was devastated by the tsunami that struck on 26 December 2004.

A Sri Lankan man, M.K. Ahula, who lost seven members of his family, stands amid the ruins in Galle, which was devastated by the tsunami that struck on 26 December 2004.
� Till Mayer / International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

On 26th December 2004, the biggest earthquake for 40 years struck off the Indian Ocean floor west of Indonesia. This triggered tidal waves or tsunamis, up to 30 feet high, which travelled at speeds of up to 500 miles per hour, crashing into coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Maldives, Malaysia, Bangladesh and the Seychelles.

In Sri Lanka over 31,000 people lost their lives, 21,000 were injured and 5,000 remain missing. More than 500,000 were forced from their homes. One hundred thousand people are still living in nearly 300 temporary camps for internally displaced people.

Sri Lanka: Irish Red Cross expresses concern over escalating casualties in "no-fire zone"

21 April 2009

The Irish Red Cross today expressed deep concern over the tens of thousands of civilians, including women, children and elderly people, many of them wounded or sick, who are trapped in the rapidly shrinking area along the north eastern coast that had been declared a "no-fire zone" by the government.

Sri Lanka: Major humanitarian crisis unfolding

Map of Sri Lanka - Donate Now

Hundreds of people have been killed and scores of wounded are overwhelming understaffed and ill-equipped medical facilities in Sri Lanka's northern Vanni region, following intensified fighting between the Sri Lanka Security Forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Background

Vanni region, Sri Lanka, July 2004. Sign warning of land mine danger.

Vanni region, Sri Lanka, July 2004. Sign warning of land mine danger.
� ICRC / Vincent Guelat

Sri Lanka, a tropical island nation off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent, is one of the most economically advanced countries in South Asia, with over 92% of the population literate and average life expectancy at around 73 years. Sri Lanka is the world�s leading tea exporter and at the end of 2004 boasted the highest per capita income in South Asia.

Irish Red Cross Response

The Irish Red Cross launched an emergency appeal for the victims of the disaster on the 27th of December, 2004, which raised �31 million thanks to the enormous generosity of many individuals, groups, schools companies and their employees. This is the largest amount ever raised by the Irish Red Cross for a single appeal.

International Response

Over 70 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from around the world contributed towards the post-tsunami relief efforts and more than 23 are directly involved in the relief and recovery operations.

Delegates Profiles

The Irish Red Cross has a dedicated, experienced and multicultural team comprising of fifteen Sri Lankan personnel and four international delegates working together to support a post-tsunami recovery programme of housing, school construction, health infrastructure and livelihoods.