Around 20,000 children have been orphaned due to the Ditwa flood disaster that struck Sri Lanka, according to Maithili Ratheeswaran, Head of the Social Sciences Division of the Jaffna Science Association.
She made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the seminar titled “Facing Disasters: Floods in Nallur”, organized by the Social Sciences Division of the Jaffna Science Association. The event was held last week at the Auditorium of the Jaffna University Library.
Speaking further, Ratheeswaran said that the Dithwa floods have been declared one of the most severe disasters to affect Sri Lanka in several decades, with its impact felt across the entire country.
As a result of the disaster, 650 people have lost their lives, while more than 200 persons remain missing. In addition, approximately 20,000 children have been rendered orphaned.
She noted that about 473,000 families have been affected nationwide, with 5,700 houses completely destroyed. Nearly 16,000 kilometers of roads have been damaged, along with 270 kilometers of railway tracks, and over 480 bridges have become unusable.
The economic loss to Sri Lanka is estimated between USD 6 and 7 billion, while around 20 percent of agricultural cultivation has also been affected.
With regard to the Northern Province, Ratheeswaran stated that compared to the districts of Mannar, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, and Kilinochchi, the Jaffna District experienced relatively lesser damage from the floods.
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