El Niño dry spell leaves 115,000 affected as water distribution continues

More than 115,000 individuals have been impacted by a prolonged dry spell in Sri Lanka, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). To address the issue, the DMC continues to provide drinking water to communities in seven districts. As of now, the DMC reports that 113,354 people are receiving water in 35 Divisional Secretariat Divisions affected by the dry weather conditions.

Monaragala District is the most severely impacted, with water distribution reaching 41,360 people from 12,732 families across eight Divisional Secretariat Divisions. In Batticaloa District, 33,394 people from 11,142 families are being supplied with drinking water, while 20,418 people from 5,435 families in Badulla District also receive water supplies.

The DMC has documented the dry weather affecting 115,534 people from 35,149 families nationwide, with Monaragala experiencing the highest number of affected individuals. Other districts affected include Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, and Ratnapura. The DMC attributes the current situation to prevailing dry weather conditions, despite broader concerns over changing regional weather patterns and potential El Niño-related climate impacts.

Authorities remain vigilant, monitoring the situation and ensuring essential water supplies are provided to communities facing shortages, especially in areas where dry conditions have hindered access to clean drinking water. The significant number of affected individuals has raised concerns over the availability of water if the dry conditions persist, particularly in regions already under strain due to limited local water sources.

The DMC is actively coordinating relief efforts in the affected districts, with water distribution remaining a top priority as they continue to monitor the evolving weather conditions.