Dealing with the Tsunami:: "by Lareef Zubair
Four months after the Tsunami most of the survivors of the Tsunami remain in temporary shelter either in tents or being accommodated by family and friends, despite the massive fundraising by funds that have been raised by the governmental and non-governmental organizations. They remain vulnerable to a variety of environmental stresses as the seasons marches on.
On the whole, the January to March 2005 period has been just slightly wetter than normal in most parts of the island. This is a dry period in Sri Lanka and it only now that April ends that heavy Yala rainfall is expected. Thus the shelters, the drainage, the septic systems and drainage systems shall be exposed to heavy rainfall and the conditions are right for mosquito breeding.
The seasonality of malaria transmission is such that there is risk in the affected regions unless sufficient care is taken. The roofing in temporary and other shelters shall be exposed to rain. If the tsunami related debris has not been properly disposed and the munipal waste disposal is improper, then rain can leach contaminants into the water supply. If the drainage systems blocked up the tsunami debris and damage has not been cleared this is the time when water logging can lead to myriad other problems. In these and myriad other ways, the rainfall can produce impacts that can impair people who are particularly vulnerable and proper attention is needed as Yala approaches. See Figures "
Four months after the Tsunami most of the survivors of the Tsunami remain in temporary shelter either in tents or being accommodated by family and friends, despite the massive fundraising by funds that have been raised by the governmental and non-governmental organizations. They remain vulnerable to a variety of environmental stresses as the seasons marches on.
On the whole, the January to March 2005 period has been just slightly wetter than normal in most parts of the island. This is a dry period in Sri Lanka and it only now that April ends that heavy Yala rainfall is expected. Thus the shelters, the drainage, the septic systems and drainage systems shall be exposed to heavy rainfall and the conditions are right for mosquito breeding.
The seasonality of malaria transmission is such that there is risk in the affected regions unless sufficient care is taken. The roofing in temporary and other shelters shall be exposed to rain. If the tsunami related debris has not been properly disposed and the munipal waste disposal is improper, then rain can leach contaminants into the water supply. If the drainage systems blocked up the tsunami debris and damage has not been cleared this is the time when water logging can lead to myriad other problems. In these and myriad other ways, the rainfall can produce impacts that can impair people who are particularly vulnerable and proper attention is needed as Yala approaches. See Figures "
