Death toll in flood-hit Sri Lanka hits 202, hospitals to be evacuated

A boy rides his bike along a flooded road in Nagoda village, in Kalutara, Sri Lanka May 29, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

"With the increasing number of displaced people and lack of space in safe locations, temporary shelter and ensuring access to health services is needed. Disease surveillance and vector control is also a priority with the risk of communicable diseases," the statement said.

It added that over the past few months, health partners have recorded a significant increase in dengue cases (53,200 cases with over 125 deaths) compared to annual data from 2016.

The Ministry of Health has deployed medical teams mainly in Kalutara, Ratnapura and Galle districts in southern Sri Lanka, the UN update noted.

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday said the reconstruction of 640 fully destroyed houses and 5,329 partially destroyed houses will start soon.

Sirisena who also visited the worst affected district of Ratnapura on Sunday ordered authorities to provide maximum and immediate relief to the victims and ordered the treasury to release funds to compensate those affected.

International aid has also poured into the country with China, the United States, Britain, Pakistan, India, Australia, Norway and the European Union donating funds and sending relief supplies.

The Sri Lankan government has thanked the international community for its assistance at this hour of grief.

As Cyclone Mora has now moved away from the island country, the Meteorology Department said on Monday that the possibility of heavy rain and strong winds will reduce by Monday.

However it said fairly strong winds about 50 kmph could be expected over some parts of the districts.