Emergency Food Relief for 100 Families in Poolakadu Village After Flooding

Severe flooding caused by continuous rainfall affected communities in the Batticaloa District, with Poolakadu Village in the Kiran Divisional Secretariat among the impacted areas. Heavy rains damaged access routes to the village, restricting movement and disrupting the supply of essential goods, including food.

In response to the urgent needs of the community, Vanni Hope carried out an emergency food relief intervention to support families facing immediate food shortages during this period of limited accessibility.

Supporting 100 Flood-Affected Families

A total of 100 families, comprising 295 individuals, were affected by the flooding in Poolakadu Village. Damaged internal roads and ongoing rainfall made it difficult for families to travel or access markets, increasing vulnerability and food insecurity across the community.

With movement restricted and supplies delayed, immediate assistance was essential to help families cope with daily food needs.

Emergency Food Relief Intervention

To address urgent food insecurity, dry-ration packs were distributed to all 100 affected families, ensuring short-term food security during a time when access to essential supplies was severely limited.

The distribution helped stabilise households while conditions remained unsafe and transport routes were gradually assessed for recovery.

Field Challenges and Response

The intervention was carried out despite several on-ground challenges:

• Internal access routes were severely damaged, making travel difficult
• Intermittent rainfall caused repeated delays during distribution
• Use of machinery was limited, with ploughing equipment only able to operate until evening

Through coordinated planning and determination, the distribution was successfully completed, ensuring all identified families received support.

Standing With the Community

The emergency food relief provided critical support to 295 individuals affected by flooding in Poolakadu Village. While immediate food needs have been addressed, continued monitoring and assistance will be important as families work toward recovery and restored access.

Vanni Hope remains committed to supporting vulnerable communities as part of our broader Cyclone Ditwah emergency response across Sri Lanka.