Country: Sri Lanka Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the crisis Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka on 28 November 2025, triggering what has since been described as the most extensive flooding and landslide damage the country has experienced in the past two decades. The cyclone brought exceptionally heavy rainfall, with several districts recording more than 200 mm within 24 hours and localized rainfall exceeding 500 mm in the worst-affected areas. These conditions precipitated widespread flooding, flash floods, and more than 200 landslides across the country in the immediate aftermath of the storm. The disaster impacted all 25 districts, affecting approximately 2. 2 million people in total. The humanitarian consequences have been severe. According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) of Sri Lanka, as of 17 April 2026 (latest data on Cyclone Ditwah), a total of 220, 044 people from 64, 901 families had been formally registered as affected nationwide. The disaster resulted in 687 reported deaths, while 147 people remained missing. Housing damage has been substantial: 5, 866 houses were fully destroyed and 109, 629 houses were partially damaged, bringing the total number of damaged homes to 115, 495. The most affected districts continue to include Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, and Matale, which account for the majority of casualties, displacement, and housing damage. Displacement reached a peak of 220, 044 people, though it has since declined significantly. Similarly, 20 safety centres remained operational, accommodating 1, 404 people from 494 families. In addition, 150, 329 people from 44, 179 families were reported to be staying with relatives, friends, or in rented accommodation and other temporary locations, reflecting a pattern of protracted and dispersed displacement2. In remaining safety centres, gaps have been reported in child-friendly spaces, safe spaces for women and girls, mental health and psychosocial support, and access to dignity items. The Government of Sri Lanka activated national response mechanisms immediately following the cyclone, issuing landslide warnings and mobilising district authorities, emergency services, and security forces to support evacuation, search and rescue, and emergency relief. The Disaster Management Centre continues to lead operational coordination in close collaboration with line ministries and district and divisional authorities. At the request of the Government, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) launched a Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP) on 11 December 2025 to support 658, 000 of the most vulnerable people affected by Cyclone Ditwah between December 2025 and April 2026. A Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) was undertaken jointly by the Government with accompaniment from the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank; its findings as executinve summary were shared to inform a government-led recovery plan3. As the response has transitioned from emergency relief to early recovery, residual needs remain concentrated among displaced families unable to return safely due to landslide exposure, households in temporary shelter arrangements, and vulnerable populations including women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and households in high-risk or land-insecure locations whose recovery has been constrained by loss of livelihoods and limited coping capacity. From the onset of the emergency, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) mobilised its branch network and volunteers to support rapid assessments, first aid, relief distribution, and community-level coordination in affected districts, working in close coordination with the Government and humanitarian partners.
Sri Lanka | Tropical Cyclone Ditwah – Operation Update #3 (MDRLK023)
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