Global Incident Map - Customerised Version for Sri Lanka Launched!!!!

A customerised version of the http://www.globalincidentmap.com/ for Sri Lanka is now available at http://sri.globalincidentmap.com/.

This map was created by the http://www.globalincidentmap.com/ team as an encouraging response to the Sri Lanka Incident Map which was publisehd in http://www.safersrilanka.com/.

The author of http://www.safersrilanka.com/ got to know about the http://www.globalincidentmap.com/ during his study tour to Hawaii as a memebr of Community Tsunami Early-warning Centre (CTEC).

A big thank you for Morgan Clements, Publisher of GlobalIncidentMap.com and the technical experts of the team for the fantastic work!

New Civilians Safety Zone established.

A new Civilian Safety Zone (CSZ), has been declared with effect from Thursday (Feb 12) by the Sri Lankan The Sri Lankan security forces, in response to the worsening plight of the thousands held hostage by LTTE terrorists in Mullaittivu.

The new 12km long safe region demarcated along the Mullaittivu western coast is expected to facilitate flow of humanitarian aid and medical supplies for the people stranded with LTTE. The International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) has duly been informed of the new safe zone, defence sources reported.

Visit : http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090212_09 for the full story.

Stampede in South Korea - A Lesson for Sri lanka too

At least four people were killed and 30 injured after a fire triggered a mountaintop stampede during a traditional festival in southeastern South Korea, where 15,ooo people have gathered.

"Many mountain climbers who were observing the event are believed to have fallen off a cliff on the mountain after the blaze caused them to run and scatter," siad sp a police officer.

Such incidents give Sri Lanka a lesson about the danger of stampede in mass gatherings, especially in high security environment of the country. The planners of such events, should pay necessary attention to prevent such calamities.

Australian Bush Fires - Rootes in Climate Change?

"The terrible events of the past couple of weeks are, without doubt, partly the result of global warming and the greenhouse effect," says Neville Nicholls, an expert on climate change and wildfires at Australia's Monash University.

The bushfires devastaged at least 173 lives while destroying achres of forest and many property. The drought and heat waves passing through Australia have aggravated the condition.

It is estimated that the average temperature in Australia may rise by 3 degrees celcius by 2020.

Whle bushfires devastated Queensland, floods have been reported in Victoria causing floods, indicating the complexity iof climate change.

Visit http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2009-02-11-global-warming-australia-wildfires_N.htm?csp=34 for the full article.

Picture Credit: By William West, AFP, Getty

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40 Emergency Treatment Units established in Central Porvince

40 Emergncy Treatment Units (ETU) have been established in district and rural hospitals, says Central Provincial Director of health Services, Dr. (Mrs) Shanthi Samarasinghe. These units are intended to provide Emergency Treatment for patients before being transferred to specialised hospitals. Patients admitted with snake bites, poisonning, attacks of wheezing and heart attacks are amongst many others who will benefit from these units. The Provincial Director furthur stated that there are plans to expand the project to all the 225 Dsitrict and Rural Hospitals in the province.

2 New Seismographs to be Established

Two new stations equipped with modern seismographs to monitor seismic activity in Aisa will be established in Hakmana and Mahakanadara Wewa areas, states Dr. N.A. Wijayananda, the Chairman of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB). These stations will function in addition to the Pallekele Seismic Station. These stations will be constructed with German assistance. The project is a collaboration between GSMB and Ministry of Environemnt and Natural Resources.

19 fleeing civilians dead after terrorist attack.

19 civilians have been killed and 75 others wounded this morning by the LTTE terrorists in Udayarkattukualam this morning (Feb 10). 2 children , 5 women , and 12 males succumbed to death. Another 28 children , 30 women and 17 men have suffered injuries. Mean while Sri Lankan forces have been able to secure 1046 Tamil civilians fleeing from Wanni.

Critically injured have been airlifted to Anuradhapura and Vavuniya hospitals while others were cared for at field first aid station at the rescue point itself.

Visit http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090210_07 for the full story.

Picture Credit www.defence.lk

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175 million Children will suffer due to Climate Change in 10 years!

Recent climate change studies suggest a series of alarming predictions:

• a five degree increase in temperature by 2080;
• risk of hunger for some 50 million people by 2010;
• risk of flooding for millions of people in Asia;
• an increased toll on countries already with high degrees of poverty;
• an increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes;
• more extensive droughts in sub-Saharan Africa;
• more variable and extreme climatic events in general.

In the Humanitarian Action Report 2009, with reference to a study, UNICEF states that children and women represent 65 per cent of all those who will be affected by climate related disasters every year in the next decade. Out of this, 175 million will be children.

Disaster risk-reduction measures including early warning, preparedness and response systems for national disasters – and thereby strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities are crucial to meet these challenges, says UNICEF.

Furthur, it was mentioned that in 2007, an estimated 850 million people suffered from undernutrition compared to nearly 950 million by now. Between May 2007 and May 2008, the food price index rose by 50 per cent, making it impossible for many families to afford basic foods for their children. While higher food prices will render children vulnerable to starvation and disease, its influence does not stop there. Higher food prices also increase the vulnerability of children in protracted conflicts caused by political disasters and HIV/AIDS. When families can’t afford basic food for their children they are often forced to take extreme measures, resorting to child labour and early marriage with greater frequency. At the same time, school attendance is likely to fall hence the learning capacity and future earning capacity as an adult will be lost .

Visit http://www.unicef.org/har09/index.html for the full report.

Severe Shortage of Water - Deraniyagala

Deraniyagala Town and surrounding villages are experiencing severe shortage of water, as a consequence of two month long drought. As the water supply scheme is still under construction , the local authorities are provining drinking water to the communities.

Environment Observation Centre at Muttettuwegama

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in collaboration with the Coastal Conservation Department has established an Enviornment Observation Centre in Muttettuwegama in Galle District. This 33 million Rs. programme aims at protecting the environment, providing education to school children, providing research facilities for local and foreign University students and developping the tourism sector. It is hoped that the project will benefit the communities of Mettettuwegama and nearby villages.

Suicide bomb attack at IDP rescue centre - Kilinochchi

A woman suicide bomber attack killed at least 29 people including 8 civilians and injured 64 others including 40 civilians. This occurred in a IDP rescue centre, North of Visuamadu in Mullaittivu this morning (Feb 9) at around 11.30 a.m. For more details visit: http://www.mod.lk/

Over 8000 Civilians fleeing to government controlled areas: Medical teams deployed

It has been reported that the 8000 plus civilians have come to government controlled areas. Malaria, respiratory tract infections and injuries are affecting them. The Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition has decided to dispatch several medical teams to Nellikulam, Chettikulam and Manikfarm welfare villages where the IDPs are resettled.

World’s Largest River basins under threat! Says, UN report

Climatic change and inadequate corporation among countries have put some of the world’s largest river basins under threat,affecting 750 million people, stated UN report which was examining the state of freshwater resources in selected major river basins in South Asia. This report “Freshwater Under Threat: South Asia,” identifies key threats to water resources development and management and assesses the challenges the region faces in coping with threats.
South Asia, though home to one fourth of the global population, has access to less than five percent of the planet’s freshwater resources.
Visit http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29797&Cr=Water&Cr1=climate+change for full story.

ICRC Sri Lanka requested to work with government to save civilians.

Dr. H.A.P. Kahandaliyanagae, Secretary to the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, requested the ICRC to work with the government to save the lives and health of the civilians. He further stated that the government is trying to protect the civilians and the patients who are strained due to the conflict. The Health Secretary expressed these ideas in a letter to ICRC Sri Lanka.

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