🇦🇺 Australia Enhances Sri Lanka's Disaster Preparedness with Rescue Boats and Assessment Drones

The Australian Government, through funding procured via UNOPS, has provided emergency response equipment to Sri Lanka as part of its AUD 7 million humanitarian and recovery package. • Overall Support: • Equipment handed over to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and National Building Research Institute (NBRI). • Total package value: AUD 7 million for humanitarian and recovery efforts. • Key Equipment & Functionality: • Two rescue inflatable boats delivered to the DMC to strengthen flood evacuation, medical transport, and relief delivery to isolated communities. • Disaster assessment drones designated for the NBRI to enable rapid aerial monitoring and damage assessment of critical infrastructure (settlements, roads, bridges, and embankments). • Strategic Impact: • Enhances operational capability, responder safety, and evidence-based decision-making during natural disasters, supporting local resilience and disaster risk management.