Pakistan Navy extends humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka after deadly floods

• The death toll from heavy floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has risen to 132
• Social media posts show several mudslide-affected areas that authorities have yet to reach

KARACHI: The Pakistan Navy has extended humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka after deadly floods battered the island nation this week, the navy’s Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) said on Saturday, as Colombo grapples with destruction and thousands displaced by the disaster.

The death toll from heavy floods and mudslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka rose to 132, with 176 people still missing, authorities said on Saturday.

Nearly 78,000 people have been displaced and are in temporary shelters, the South Asian country’s disaster management center said. The death toll is expected to rise.

Pakistan Navy said its ship, ‘Saif,’ currently on a port call at Colombo for participation in an international fleet review, is undertaking relief operations for local populace.

“To support the affected communities, PNS Saif provided humanitarian relief supplies to Sri Lankan authorities to augment ongoing national relief efforts,” the DGPR said in a statement.

“The aid package comprised food staples, Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), dry rations, first-aid kits, emergency medicines and essential equipment.”

Social media posts on Saturday showed several areas affected by overnight mudslides that authorities have yet to reach.

Sri Lanka has been battered by severe weather since last week. Conditions worsened Thursday, with heavy downpours that flooded homes, fields and roads and triggered landslides mainly in the tea-growing central hill country. The government closed schools and offices and postponed examinations.

By Friday, water flowing downstream from severely affected areas began to inundate areas around the capital, Colombo, which experienced comparatively less rainfall.

Authorities say that Ditwah, which developed in the seas east of Sri Lanka, is likely to move toward India’s southern coast by Sunday.

The DGPR said Pakistan Navy will continue to provide further humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka in line with evolving relief requirements.

“This swift support provided by PNS Saif underscores Pakistan Navy’s commitment to international obligations, regional stability and solidarity with friendly nations in their hour of need,” it added.