COLOMBO: The flood disaster in Sri Lanka has led to the closure of 16 hospitals, compounding a threat of water and vector-borne diseases, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.

According to the country’s disaster monitoring body, the number of people affected was over 604,000. The death toll stood at 194 on Wednesday while 99 people remained missing. Over 83,000 have been rendered homeless.

A total of 15 districts bore the brunt of the floods.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Pakistan Navy began disaster relief operations on Wednesday, a day after reaching Sri Lanka on board the ship, PNS Zulfiquar. Relief teams have been dispatched to remote areas in an attempt to rescue the marooned.

A navy medical team has established a camp in Kalutara district and started giving out essential medicines to the needy.

Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the chief of the Sri Lankan navy, met the medical team and thanked the government of Pakistan for helping his country in its hour of need.

PNS Zulfiquar has brought dried food items, medicines, de-flooding pumps and other emergency devices. The ship is capable of carrying out search and rescue operations through its helicopter, rescue boats and expert divers, according to the Pakistan High Commission.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2017