'Lanka faces food crisis': FAO calls for $16.5m aid

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Headquarters in Rome issued an appeal calling for international assistance of USD 16.5 million to support the early recovery of livelihoods and food security for farming, livestock-keeping and fishing communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, FAO said yesterday.

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Cyclone Ditwah represents one of the most severe climate shocks the country has faced in decades, affecting all 25 districts and disrupting the lives and livelihoods of more than 2.2 million people. Over 1.1 million people are now in urgent need of food security, agricultural and nutrition assistance, at a time when vulnerabilities were already heightened by prolonged economic pressures.

The cyclone struck at the onset of the critical Maha 2025/26 cultivation season, causing widespread damage to agriculture, livestock and fisheries. Floods inundated more than 129 000 hectares of agricultural land, affecting over 227 000 farming households. Standing water, debris, siltation and damaged irrigation systems are delaying replanting, while shortages of seeds, fertilizers and access to machinery threaten to result in irreversible production losses if immediate support is not provided.