The long-lasting civil war in Sri Lanka ended in May 2009. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had had to leave their villages because of the fighting have been coming back during the last months. Thanks to the work done by international and local organisations since then in the fields of reconstruction, road rehabilitation and water supply, as well as further basic structures, significant improvement has already been achieved in the east of the country.

In December 2010, however, monsoon season started: continuous and heavy rainfalls led to severe flooding and landslides in the central highlands and in the eastern provinces (Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Ampara, Matale, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhnapura). The roads between Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee have been destroyed and remain closed. The concerned regions are partly isolated and the supply of aid thus remains difficult. More than one million people are concerned, 27 died and 49 were injured. About 360,000 people had to leave their homes, as they had been destroyed or badly damaged. Because of the flood, many people who had just returned to their villages have to live in an IDP camp again. At present, there are 35 camps for IDPs.