BANGKOK, Thailand, Dec 17 (IPS) – Cyclones Ditwah and Senyar are indications of a changing disaster risk landscape, not anomalies. Both storms broke historical patterns: Ditwah tracked unusually southward along the Sri Lankan coast before looping into the Bay of Bengal and crashing over the coast. 375 mm of rain in 24 hours and causing landslides.
Senyar, only the second cyclone ever measured in the Strait of Malacca, increased near the equator and stalled over Sumatra, worsening flooding in Aceh and North Sumatra.
The rising human and economic toll
According to the ESCAP Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2025: Rising Heat, Increasing RiskThe Asia-Pacific region is entering an era of cascading risks driven by intensifying heat and extreme weather, with marine heatwaves and warmer surface temperatures fueling this new normal.
Historical low-risk zones, such as the central hills of Sri Lanka and the southern belt of Thailand, are now climate hotspots.
The report predicts that in South and Southwest Asia alone, average annual losses from flooding could increase from a historical $47 billion to $57 billion.
Throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, the storms at the end of November 2025 caused more than 1,600 fatalities, left hundreds of people missing and affected more than ten million people.
Widespread flooding and landslides have displaced 1.2 million people, disrupted essential services and isolated countless communities, underscoring the scale of the response required and the significant economic impact expected.
The value of preparedness
While improved early warnings have reduced loss of life compared to decades past, these storms show that disasters are becoming more destructive. Yes, early warnings saved lives; impact-based forecasts led to mass evacuations and community exercises helped families get to safety. But thousands were still stranded.
Warnings were issued, but implementation on the ground was unclear and some evacuation routes were already flooded. In many cases, social media became the lifeline when official systems failed.
The trend is clear: technology alone cannot save lives without trust and practiced responses. Warnings only work if people know what to do and feel confident.
The ESCAP multi-donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness shows that investing in preparedness pays for itself many times over. Are Call for proposals 2025-2026 offers countries an opportunity to strengthen coastal resilience, integrate science and technology, and anchor community-led action – before the next storm season tests our readiness.
The lessons we need to learn
- • Trusted local networks and well-resourced, community-led preparedness efforts make warnings meaningful
Early warnings have their limits. Warnings were issued and hotlines opened in many areas, but rapidly increasing flooding left families stranded and dependent on rescue teams and volunteers. These events show that mobility restrictions and uneven preparation of households can limit action, even when information is available.
Community-led initiatives, such as those following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, demonstrate how local knowledge and regular exercises improve decision-making. Twenty years later, social cohesion has become a sign of resilience.
For example, the Bangladesh Cyclone Preparedness Program (with 76,000 volunteers) has dramatically reduced the number of deaths from cyclones by providing door-to-door warnings and guiding evacuations.
- • Urban growth without risk-based planning increases the impact of disasters
Ditwah and Senyar showed how rapid urban growth without risk-based planning increases the impact of disasters. Colombo’s wetlands have shrunk by 40 percentwhile Hat Yai’s drainage was overwhelmed.
Many hard-hit towns in Sumatra were in known landslide risk zones, resulting in severe disruptions to hospitals, transport networks and local businesses.
As natural buffers disappear, rain that once flowed slowly now floods cities within hours. Urban resilience depends on integrating risks into development planning by conserving wetlands, enforcing zoning regulations, and investing in drainage and flood defenses.
Infrastructure alone is not enough; it must be designed for extremes. Cities that embed resilience into planning and protect natural systems are better positioned to withstand future storms and safeguard economic activity.
- • Regional solidarity and shared solutions can save lives.
The Asia-Pacific region faces converging risks, with storms amplifying monsoon hazards, culminating in mudslides and exacerbated by infrastructure weaknesses. Regional cooperation is no longer optional; it is the basis for resilience in the world’s most disaster-affected region.
In November 2025, 8 countries (including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand) were activated the International Charter for Outer Space and major disastersenabling rapid satellite imagery for emergency planning, proving the value of shared systems (see figure).
As water flowed through the region, participants took part in the ESCAP Disaster Risk Reduction Committee reaffirmed their commitment to regional early warning and anticipatory action systems – because dangers respect no borders.
The resilience of the Asia-Pacific region depends on investing in people and preparedness cultures, regional solidarity, urban planning for extremes, protecting natural buffers and ensuring last-mile guidance reaches every household.
Building generations and societies equipped to manage rising risks is the smartest investment for a more secure future.
Source: ESCAPE
IPS UN Office
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