ACF Responds to Earthquakes, Aftershocks in South Asia

ACF emergency response focuses on basic needs in hard-hit Sri Lanka Trincomalee, Sri Lanka —

Action Against Hunger has responded to the earthquake and aftershocks in South Asia by providing immediate assistance to the tsunami victims of Sri Lanka in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Jaffna. This includes construction of temporary latrines, trucking in water, and transportation of bodies to hospitals for identification. Assessments of need are under way in Indonesia, and more staff will arrive in the next few days to assist with relief efforts in the region. A shipment of additional emergency water and sanitation materials (water tanks, pumps and treatment supplies) will arrive in Sri Lanka within 24 hours.

The Action Against Hunger team, present in Sri Lanka since 1996, responded immediately to the emergency. Guillaume Kopp, Action Against Hunger country director in Sri Lanka, said: "All coasts, coastal infrastructures and houses have been damaged. In some areas, the tsunami brought water as far inland as two kilometers. This catastrophe comes on top of heavy flooding during the past 10 days, which has destroyed half the paddy fields. We anticipate the affected population to be as many as 225,000 from both the flooding and the tsunami. These people will face food shortages and possible disease due to water and hygiene conditions."

Action Against Hunger will continue to carry out emergency water distribution and purification of water sources affected by the tsunami. Assessment of food availability and a general ration distribution (food, bed sheets, mats, mosquito nets, and pans) will be organized later in the week.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger | ACF International is a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger. Recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programs in some 40 countries benefiting 5 million people each year.

Press Contact

Action Against Hunger - USA

James L. Phelan
Senior External Relations Officer, ACF-USA
Contact James Phelan
Direct: 212-967-7800 x108
Cell: 646-265-7796

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