While some displaced families have returned home, recent heavy rains have caused fresh flooding, landslides and road closures, especially in the central districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa.
Nearly 1.8 million people – about 8 percent of the island’s population – remain affected, according to UN estimates. Among them, more than 1.2 million people need humanitarian assistance, including almost 527,000 children.
A joint rapid needs assessment led by national authorities and humanitarian partners confirmed extensive damage in all nine provinces, with severe disruption to essential services and increased risks for women, children and persons with disabilities.
Hunger and food insecurity are on the rise, with reports that nearly one in three households are food insecure and many families are resorting to “coping strategies” such as cutting back on meals.
Child protection needs and response in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
Children are at increased risk
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports critical gaps in child protection, education, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. Many children remain displaced in overcrowded centers or with host families, where inadequate lighting, privacy and sanitation increase protection risks, including gender-based violence.
Education has been hit hard. More than 1,300 schools and six universities were damaged, while about 500 schools are still serving as temporary shelters.
Authorities have begun moving students from damaged schools to nearby functioning schools, but humanitarians warn that temporary learning spaces will be needed in several areas to avoid long-term disruptions to education.
Despite the challenges, UNICEF and partners have expanded emergency response, reaching more than 76,000 people with WASH services, nearly 9,000 with nutritional support and more than 5,600 with child protection services.
Displacement and destruction
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 272,000 people remain displaced, most in host communities while others seek shelter in schools, religious buildings and community centers.
In mid-December, authorities reported 643 dead and 183 still missing. More than 107,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, making shelter one of the most urgent needs.
© IOM
IOM teams on the ground are providing shelter and essential relief supplies to support communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
Economic toll and food insecurity
The cyclone has dealt a major blow to livelihoods.
A rapid post-disaster assessment by the World Bank estimated damage at $4.1 billion – equivalent to 4 percent of the country’s GDP.
Agricultural losses are estimated at more than US$800 million, with more than 58,000 hectares of rice land in the eastern districts under water, threatening food production and incomes of small farmers.
The financing shortage threatens the recovery
At the government’s request, UN agencies and humanitarian partners launched a Humanitarian priority plan this month, seeking $35.3 million to support the most vulnerable.
UNICEF alone needs $7.8 million to support children’s emergency response, but as of December 23, less than half of that amount had been received or committed.
Humanitarian organizations warn that without sustained funding and support, recovery will be slow – especially for children, whose education, safety and well-being remain at risk as Sri Lanka faces a long and difficult recovery.
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