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Flood death toll surpasses 1,300 in Indonesia and Sri Lanka

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Frustration is escalating in Indonesia and Sri Lanka as officials grapple with the daunting task of reaching survivors in remote and isolated areas severely affected by recent floods. The tragic aftermath of the natural disasters has resulted in a rising death toll, now reported at approximately 1,300 across four stricken nations, according to the AFP.

In Indonesia alone, the flooding has claimed 755 lives, with over 650 individuals still unaccounted for. Authorities are working tirelessly to devise strategies for delivering aid to those trapped by flooding and landslides, yet the scale of the disaster poses unprecedented challenges even for a nation accustomed to dealing with various natural calamities.

Last week, record rainfall swept across Sri Lanka, parts of Indonesia’s Sumatra, Thailand, and Malaysia, exacerbated by the influence of two rare tropical storms. The monsoon season, typically a period of heavy rain, has been intensified this year, leading to catastrophic flooding and landslides that overwhelmed infrastructure.

Aid organizations are expressing deep concern over the logistics of the rescue and relief efforts. “It’s very challenging logistically to respond,” remarked Ade Soekadis, the executive director of Mercy Corps Indonesia, highlighting the complexity of navigating the affected areas.

The urgency of the situation is driving officials and aid groups to explore innovative methods for reaching those in need. As frustration grows, both residents of the affected countries and the international community are calling for a swift and coordinated response to alleviate the suffering and provide necessary support to the survivors.

 
Pakistan sends urban search and rescue team to assist cyclone-hit Sri Lanka

Pakistan has sent an urban search and rescue team to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, where severe flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah have claimed more than 400 lives.

According to Radio Pakistan, a Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying a 47-member team along with 6.5 tons of essential equipment has departed to participate in the humanitarian and rescue efforts.

Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad for seeing off the aid on Wednesday morning, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said the urban search and rescue team was being sent to help the people affected by the cyclone in Sri Lanka.

He asserted that Pakistan and its government stood in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. The NDMA chairman further said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had directed “full-out support” to assist those affected.


“Pakistan has committed all-out support since November 28 when the cyclone impacted Sri Lanka,” he said. He said that a Pakistan Navy ship that was in the area was immediately tasked with staying with the Sri Lankan government and evacuating those people stranded in the rains.

The NDMA chairman said that Cyclone Ditwah was “unfortunate and unprecedented” because a decline had previously been observed in hurricanes in South Pacific, with more cyclone-related activity being witnessed in the southern Indian Ocean and southern Arabian Sea.

He said that the urban search and rescue team being sent for assistance was a “very competent military team” that was also experienced in being a key search and rescue partner for other teams in the recent past. He said the team will remain in the field as long as required.

Malik said the government had also dispatched 200 tons of cargo assistance for Sri Lanka yesterday that would sail out from Karachi via a commercial container ship.

“The prime minister has also committed additional support from Pakistan if required,” he added.

Malik also said that climate change was threatening “all nations alike”, saying this was the time to “collate global knowledge” on early warning systems.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also spoke at the press conference, extending his “deepest condolences” to Sri Lanka on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.

He added that another aid consignment would be sent from Lahore, where Sri Lankan planes were to arrive, and an additional consignment would be sent from Karachi.

“Everything that is possible for the government of Pakistan to do will be done,” he assured the Sri Lankan ambassador, who was also present at the ceremony.

“We stand with you in these testing times,” he said.

 
Countries shouldn’t play petty politics over natural disasters. Don’t use it to play geopolitics. Do the help silently. They will know who helped them. No need to market it on social media.
 
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun.

Sri Lanka is a small island. So, they are trapped. Nowhere to go.

May they recover quickly.
 
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun.

Sri Lanka is a small island. So, they are trapped. Nowhere to go.

May they recover quickly.

Really sad to see. The island was ruined after the tsunami 2005.

There seems to be more natural disasters than ever before.
 
Insane how both these countries keep getting affected together.. Tsunami 2004 also caused havoc
 
Will this affect 2026 World T20?

SL is already using one of the Colombo stadiums as the shelter.

Anyway, I hope they all will recover quickly. Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Thailand had a nasty earthquake a few months ago. So, this is a double blow for them.
 
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