An abundance of essential supplies from torches to clothes and dry goods is being donated to be sent to cyclone-hit communities in Sri Lanka as relief efforts have stepped up in the UAE.
Sri Lankans in the Emirates have also been wiring money directly to government accounts and aid groups in their homeland to help people left homeless by Cyclone Ditwah, and the flooding and landslides in its aftermath.
The Sri Lanka consulate and embassy in the UAE have each issued an appeal to people to assist more than 1.4 million people impacted by the cyclone, that has killed more than 470 people with more than 350 missing following devastating floods and landslides across the country.
“We will spread the message so more people will come in the next few days to contribute supplies,” said Ganga Tilakaratne, 33, a Sri Lankan chartered accountant who bought first-aid kits, rubber gloves and sanitary supplies with a group of 25 friends and dropped several packets off at the consulate in Dubai.
“We are shocked at the scale of the devastation. We feel it’s our responsibility to help because everything we are today is because of the people in Sri Lanka. We had access to free health care and free education in our country, so it’s our time to give back. We don’t think of this as a donation, we really want to help our people.”
The consulate will send the first batch of aid supplies from the UAE to Colombo on Wednesday night.
Coming together to help
The Sri Lankan government has issued a list of supplies required by survivors in makeshift shelters, which is being updated regularly by the consulate online.
Sri Lankan residents in the UAE were unable to contact family for days as torrential rain had damaged the telecoms and electricity networks, leaving people on the stricken island cut off.
Ajith Gedara, 41, a driver for an energy company in Dubai, bought sacks of rice, lentils, sugar, milk powder, noodles and cooking oil, and delivered the packages to the consulate.
“My heart felt very heavy when I saw so much rain in my country and that people don’t have food or clothes,” he said. “At least people should be able to eat and have a safe place to stay. My heart felt light after I dropped off the relief packages and I will keep coming in to send supplies so I can help more people.”
United effort
Residents from other nations are also taking part in the aid drive.
Uma Shankri, a member of the Indian People’s Forum community group, brought in cartons of clothes for children.
“We are neighbours – India and Sri Lanka – so we immediately wanted to help,” she said. “We checked with the consulate to find out exactly what was needed. It is important all communities come forward, it shows there is humanity in the world and that we can work together. We are not separate individuals from different countries living in Dubai, all the different nationalities have one voice when it comes to helping and supporting people in need.”
The wreckage caused by the cyclone has affected the entire island nation, particularly central hilly regions with entire villages wiped out.
The rain also caused havoc across South-East Asia, with more than 1,100 deaths reported in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Rebuilding critical
The Sri Lankan government has said the nation will need long-term assistance in rebuilding infrastructure, agriculture, water systems and housing damaged in the cyclone.
The UAE has sent a search-and-rescue team with essential supplies and pledged support to the cyclone-hit nation.
“People have been coming in since Monday with parcels of help,” said Subhashini Silva, of the Sri Lanka consulate in Dubai. “We will send the first consignment on Wednesday night and hope to send more as we receive supplies. People are very sad about the situation but they say it’s a chance for them to help families.”
Officials said it was uplifting to see people from other countries pitch in. “It’s a difficult time for Sri Lanka, so many people are still missing. But we feel as long as we have support from our friends, we will pull through this crisis and become stronger,” Ms Silva said.
