Sri Lanka: Cyclone Ditwah - Situation Report No. 5 (As of 9 January 2026)

This report is produced by the Office of the Resident Coordinator Sri Lanka in collaboration with humanitarian partners and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. It covers the period from 30 December 2025 to 9th January 2026.The next report will be issued on or around 16 January 2026.

HIGHLIGHTS

• At the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Humanitarian Country Team launched the Humanitarian Priorities Plan on 11 December 2025, seeking $35.3 million to support 658,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by cyclone Ditwah.
• As per the Department of Meteorology, the deep depression currently over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours. Very heavy rainfall is expected over the Eastern, Uva, North Central, and Northern Provinces.
• Landslide warnings have been issued for the districts of Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya.
• Main highways remain accessible; minor and rural roads may be affected by infrastructure damage.
• An estimated 177,000 individuals remain displaced at other localities or are temporarily staying with host families, with over 19,000 people still accommodated in 205 safety centers.
• 67 metric tonnes of fortified food have reached 261,347 people in 59 divisions across five of the worst-affected districts.