News
Flood and landslide death toll rises to 19
By Ifham Nizam
Extreme weather pattern causing floods and landslides countrywide had claimed the lives of 19 people, while five others were injured, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said adding that the Gampaha District was the worst affected with nearly 40, 000 families living in evacuation centres or with their relatives.
Ten people have drowned due to floods while another seven lost their lives during mudslides, DMC said.
Landslides and flood warnings are still in place in Gampaha, Kalutara and Kegalle districts.
DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said inclement weather had affected 271,110 people belonging to 67, 000 families, of which more than 26,800 persons remain displaced in 104 emergency shelters.
In addition, around 22,932 persons belonging to 5,700 families are staying in the homes of relatives. Nearly 980 homes were partly damaged, while some houses were completely damaged .
Some 10 districts have been battered by torrential rains since last Thursday, including Colombo and suburbs where many houses, paddy fields and roads have been inundated. A total of 88 divisional secretariat divisions have been affected.
Among the victims was a family of four who died when a mound of earth crashed into their house in the Kegalle district. Two others remain missing.
Meanwhile the Department of Meteorology says that
showers will occur today at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy districts.
Fairly heavy rainfall of about 50 mm can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Uva and Eastern provinces during the evening or night, while mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere.
BBC reported that Rebel police officers rioted in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on Thursday following the killing of more than a dozen colleagues by criminal gangs.
The rioting officers blame the government for not taking action.
More than 100 demonstrators blocked streets, burned tyres, broke security cameras and damaged vehicles.
Local media said several officers broke through the gates of the prime minister’s residence and attempted to enter Haiti’s international airport.
Fourteen officers are thought to have died since the start of the year in various gang attacks on police stations.
Seven officers were killed in shootout on Wednesday alone, according to Haiti’s National Police.
BBC reported that archaeologists say they have found a gold leaf-covered mummy sealed inside a sarcophagus that had not been opened for 4,300 years.
The mummy, the remains of a man named Hekashepes, is thought to be one of the oldest and most complete non-royal corpses ever found in Egypt.
It was discovered down a 15m (50ft) shaft at a burial site south of Cairo, Saqqara, where three other tombs were found.
One tomb belonged to a “secret keeper”.
The largest of the mummies that were unearthed at the ancient necropolis is said to belong to a man called Khnumdjedef – a priest, inspector and supervisor of nobles.
Another belonged to a man called Meri, who was a senior palace official given the title of “secret keeper”, which allowed him to perform special religious rituals.
A judge and writer named Fetek is thought to have been laid to rest in the other tomb, where a collection of what are thought to be the largest statues ever found in the area had been discovered.
Several other items, including pottery, have also been found among the tombs.
Alleging the government has failed to address the developing crisis caused by grave shortage of pharmaceutical drugs, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has called for WHO’s intervention.In a letter dated January 26, 2023, addressed to WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge has raised concerns about shortage of pharmaceutical drugs, escalating prices of medicines and allegations of malpractices and corruption in procurement procedures.
The GMOA has released its letter to the media along with what it called a 10 fold plan formulated by an expert committee set up by the GMOA.
The following are the GMOA’s proposals:
1. To appoint a high-level coordinating committee within the Ministry of Health to ensure effective communications and coordination between following institutions, identified as responsible for the whole exercise. (a) Ministry of Health focal points (b) Medical Supplies Division (MSD) (c) State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) d. State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) e. National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Monthly progress review meetings of aforementioned committees are to be ensured, with Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Health or his representative. Quarterly review with Minister of Health to facilitate arriving at essential policy decisions.
2. To ensure Transparent Procurement Procedures, where every interested citizen should be entitled to know the true facts.
3. To upgrade the available computer software programme to match the current needs and to ensure more efficiency in procurement procedures.
4. To appoint a technical committee to study Auditor General Reports with regard to procurement Procedures of last 5 years and actions to be declared with specific time frame to implement recommendations of the Auditor General.
5. Review the recent Presidential Investigation Commission reports and initiate urgent actions to file legal action against the respondents. Remove all those officials who are accused through these reports of malpractices, from their current posts, until the verdicts are delivered.
6. To minimise emergency purchases of Medicinal drugs and ensure the transparency of that process through progress reports on emergency purchases, which is to be published on a monthly basis.
7. To identify alternative modes for distribution of pharmaceutical drugs to peripheral stations (e.g.: Public Transport services with identified modifications)
8. To open an “Information Desk” at the Ministry of Health to effectively communicate with and guide the donors of pharmaceutical items.
9. To fill the existing vacancies at National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), following stipulated acceptable pathways and activating all the sub committees within NMRA.
10. To declare a relief package to reduce the prices of essential medicinal drugs, through the upcoming interim budget.
Haiti police riot after crime gangs kill 14 officers
Gold-covered mummy among latest discoveries in Egyptian tomb
Fairly heavy showers in Sabaragamuwa, Central provinces and Ampara, Baticaloa and Badulla districts
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