Dec 02, Colombo: The United Nations said today that its agencies have carried out an assessment of civilian needs in the flood ravaged Jaffna district in Northern Sri Lanka.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has assessed the needs of more than 70,000 people displaced and of another 300,000 affected by the floods.

The UN said its relief officials are continuing to assist the government authorities in the North to provide relief to flood- affected people in the area.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are among the UN agencies already distributing relief supplies or coordinating assistance.

Jaffna is the hardest hit by the recent cyclone and torrential rains followed it forcing about 62,000 to flee their homes.

The government reported that 11,909 houses were fully damaged and another 31,267 were partially damaged in the peninsula. The displaced are now living in nearly 250 separate camps for IDPs.