The UN relief coordination office, OCHA, reports that 998,918 people in Sri Lanka’s 25 districts have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Ditwah, with 212 deaths and 218 people missing. Over 180,000 individuals from more than 51,000 families are taking refuge in 1,094 government-run safety centers as search and rescue efforts continue.
Cyclone Ditwah struck on 28 November, causing severe flooding unprecedented since the early 2000s in Sri Lanka. The most affected districts include Gampaha, Colombo, Puttalam, Mannar, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa, with significant landslides in Kandy, Badulla, and Matale.
More than 15,000 homes are destroyed, over 200 roads are impassable, at least 10 bridges are damaged, and sections of the rail network and national power grid are impacted. Flooding along the Kelani River hinders access and communication, complicating rescue and relief operations. Northern districts like Jaffna face severe disruptions in electricity, mobile, communications, and transport networks, isolating entire villages. Clean water access is a major concern, with reports of limited supply in several areas.
Sri Lanka’s fragile health system is under significant pressure, receiving limited supplies as many district hospitals remain flooded. Critically ill patients are being airlifted to operational facilities. Recurring landslides and breached tank bunds, including at Mavilaaru, increase risks in Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Authorities warn of escalating food insecurity due to submerged farmland, damaged storage facilities, and severed supply routes. The WHO highlights heightened risks of vector-borne, food-borne, and water-borne diseases, advising communities to prevent mosquito bites, ensure food safety, and utilize safe drinking water.
The UN in Sri Lanka has activated its emergency coordination system to collaborate with government agencies and humanitarian organizations for a unified response. Sector coordination includes food security, health, water and sanitation (WASH), education, protection, shelter, and early recovery. A multi-sector needs assessment is underway to identify urgent gaps.
UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche emphasizes the UN’s mobilization to support national rescue and early recovery efforts in coordination with authorities. Despite access issues, UNICEF has provided portable water to 25 safety centers in the flood-isolated region of Badulla. India and Pakistan have sent emergency teams to assist Sri Lanka’s armed forces in the hardest-hit districts.
Elsewhere in Asia, severe monsoon flooding continues in Thailand and Malaysia, affecting over two million people in southern Thailand and displacing nearly 25,000 in Malaysia. In Indonesia, media reports indicate at least 440 deaths from floods and landslides, with more than 400 missing, particularly in Sumatra, where thousands remain stranded without food and water.
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