The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah is still increasing in Sri Lanka. The confirmed death toll is 334, which is almost three times the number of victims recorded initially. The number of people missing is close to 400. These figures are a result of the extreme floods and the landslides that are widespread in the area, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

Source: X

Disaster Scale & Human Impact

The cyclone has caused the heaviest rainfall in the recorded history of the area, which in turn led to the rivers overflowing, the dams breaking, and the landslides wiping out the villages. The low-lying suburbs of the capital, Colombo, which in fact are the hardest hit areas, remain flooded even after the rain has stopped. According to the DMC, the flood has affected more than 1.3 million people nationwide.

It is stated that a lot of houses, probably over 15,000, have been damaged, and thousands of people are forced to live in temporary shelters. The rescue teams are still at work in the dangerous areas where there is a risk of more landslides, as the slopes are still soaked.

At the same time, the humanitarian crisis is becoming worse: the blood banks are almost empty; there are still problems with the supply of clean water and electricity; and the relief services are overstretched. The authorities think that the slush-covered mountain slopes are still a risky area for further collapse and therefore dangerous.

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International & Regional Response

Indian Air Force (IAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) resources have been sent to provide relief under Operation Sagar Bandhu. A C-130J plane was used to transport almost 10 tonnes of emergency relief materials, including medical supplies, to Colombo recently.

In addition, another plane carrying 21 tonnes of relief materials, along with more than 80 NDRF personnel and equipment weighing 8 tonnes, was instrumental in India’s quick response to the situation.

Although aid is coming in, the extent of the damage and the number of people living in the affected areas imply that the international community’s help will be indispensable for the recovery process, which is expected to be long.

Source: X

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What the Numbers Show

The aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah has caused such a huge amount of damage that Sri Lanka is struggling to deal with what is probably its worst natural disaster in the last several decades. With the number of dead people increasing, thousands of people displaced, and many others still missing, the need for a continuous humanitarian aid program and long-term rehabilitation is extremely urgent. There are many obstacles in the way of the recovery of the country, starting with the restoration of the basic utilities and infrastructure, and going on to the provision of adequate food, water, shelter, and medical ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌care.

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