Colombo: Approximately 90,000 Sri Lankans are facing the harsh impacts of a severe drought. The affected regions are Sabaragamuwa, Eastern, North Western, and Northern provinces, as reported by Xinhua news agency, citing the Disaster Management Center (DMC).
As of now, a significant number of individuals, specifically 89,485 people from 27,885 families, have been adversely affected by the drought. Among the affected districts, Jaffna in the Northern Province is experiencing the most severe consequences, with 69,113 people from 21,714 families bearing the brunt of the water scarcity, according to the DMC.
The DMC states that droughts in Sri Lanka are typically caused by either a delayed onset of the monsoon or variations in rainfall patterns, common occurrences in this South Asian island nation. The scarcity of rainfall during critical periods exacerbates the situation, leading to adverse impacts on agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods in the affected regions.
