Sri Lanka:
In Sri Lanka more than 30,196 people were killed. Almost all of Sri Lanka’s northern, eastern and southern coastal areas are affected. The death toll is expected to reach more than 40,000. At the time of the disaster, hundreds of schools, including those with classes full of students were washed away. Hospitals, railroads, industries, houses and other properties are totally damaged. Communication, electricity, water supply and transport systems have not resumed.
Decomposing bodies still remain littered in some villages. Drinking water is in short supply as most of the wells are contaminated and tap water supply is disrupted. Medical aid, which reached many places, is in short supply and is almost absent in the most rural areas. Torrential rain that followed the tsunami has displaced refugees from camps and hampered relief efforts.
Latest information on situation of education facilities, teachers and children: EI member organizations in the country have expressed their concern over the long-term psychological effect on survivors and have emphasized the need to get the disrupted education back on track as soon as possible. They have made an appeal to the EI Secretariat and other EI member organizations to extend their support to address the educational needs in the affected areas.
According to the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, more than 80,000 children
and 3,000 teachers are displaced. 59 schools were completely damaged, 110
schools were partially damaged with all school furniture and equipment destroyed.
A large number of schools are now used to house the displaced persons and
they are not functioning until alternate arrangements can be made to relocate
the refugees. Please contact EI should you need the statistics of schools
affected in the different parts of the country.
The EI Member organizations in Sri Lanka have formed a Joint Tsunami Relief
Committee and is in the process of obtaining information from its branches
and districts. The committee has put up an advertisement in the newspapers
in all the three languages requesting leaders and members affected to contact
them immediately.