Attachments
Highlights
- Over seven weeks after Cyclone Ditwah made landfall, displacement is declining but humanitarian needs persist, including sustained WASH services, improved access to SAM treatment, continuity of learning for affected children, and protection measures to prevent family separation and expand psychosocial support.
- UNICEF continued to provide life-saving assistance across sectors. 60,600 people benefited from WASH services and supplies, 81,300 people received education support, including 12,900 individual learning kits. Nutrition interventions reached 10,992 people, with treatment provided to 1,271 children with severe or moderate acute malnutrition. Child Protection supported 31,215 individuals through case management, family reunification, and psychosocial services.
- UNICEF ordered over US$930,000 in emergency supplies, with 75 per cent already delivered.
- UNICEF requires US$7.8 million to provide immediate, life-saving support to children and families affected by Cyclone Ditwah. As of 21 January, US$4.73 million has been received and US$1 million pledged, leaving a funding gap of US$2.1 million.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on the East coast of Sri Lanka on 28 November 2025, causing widespread floods and deadly landslides across the nation. Some 646 people are reported to have died, while 173 people remain missing. According to the Humanitarian Priorities Plans (HPP), over 2.2 million people were affected and an estimated 1.2 million people are in need of assistance, including almost 527,000 children.
While displacement figures are declining, 8,294 people remain in 113 safety centers and 169,642 are staying with host families or renting accommodation. Many cannot return home due to severe housing damage, ongoing monsoon rains and landslide risks, and relocation needs for families in high-risk zones. Economic vulnerability further delays recovery for thousands of households.
Weather conditions in the North and East remain unsettled. Rainfall has continued between 8 and 12 January, with the low depression zone developed near Sri Lanka increasing the fears of a second tropical disturbance. However, the overall rainfall was moderate and lower than predicted. Most irrigation tanks are now at full capacity, raising concerns about potential overflow if heavy rains return.
Findings from the Joint Rapid Needs Assessment – Phase II, conducted by the Government in collaboration with humanitarian partners in December, underscored significant sectoral impacts and priority areas for response.
The rapid Education Sector needs assessment found that learning for over 890,000 children was disrupted by the cyclone, exceeding earlier estimations included in the Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP). A total of 1,682 primary and secondary schools were affected, impacting 822,751 children, along with 2,700 pre-primary schools affecting 68,000 children. The assessment further finds that 15 to 20 per cent of schools sustained structural damage. Beyond infrastructure loss, thousands of children have lost essential learning materials, and prolonged displacement has disrupted learning routines. Teachers face challenges due to damaged transport networks and overcrowded host schools, while system-level strains include inadequate facilities and heightened psychosocial needs among students and staff.
These findings are complemented by results from RAPIDA (Rapid Assessment of Priority Interventions for Early Recovery), a qualitative assessment led by the Disaster Management Centre in collaboration with UNDP and partners, which highlighted widespread, interconnected impacts on housing, infrastructure, livelihoods, essential services, and the environment. Key informants report that while initial response, repairs, and debris clearance have begun, recovery efforts remain constrained by material shortages, limited technical and financial capacity, environmental degradation, and climate risks. Some 31 per cent of key informants identified access to clean water as a key long-term environmental concern, while 22 per cent highlighted risks of disease outbreaks. The Government of Sri Lanka has begun developing a Recovery Plan and is preparing for a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). UNICEF is actively engaged in the PDNA process, leading the Education and WASH chapters, and contributing sectoral expertise and data for Nutrition and Protection. Meanwhile, urgent humanitarian needs remain.