$ 35 m Humanitarian Priorities Plan for Ditwah victims

THE Government and its humanitarian partners will coordinate on a $ 35 million Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP) for victims of Cyclone Ditwah.

- By Sarasi WUERATNE

So far, the Government has received $ 20 million of funds, most of which have been channelled through the UN by its development partners. Nearly 1.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the cyclone.

The humanitarian response will address short-, medium-, and long-term needs in housing, livelihoods, food security, nutrition, water and sanitation, and education.

The Government reported 643 casualties and 183 people still missing in the latest situation report of 19 December, which was released by the UN Resident Coordinator’s office in Sri Lanka. More than 66,000 people are still residing in safety centres in the wake of the cyclone, which was unprecedented in Sri Lanka’s weather annals. The cyclone affected communities in all districts, with the Central, Western, and North Western Provinces hit the most.

Cyclone Ditwah displaced nearly 233 thousand families at its peak and fully or partially damaged more than 100,000 houses. Although these families have started returning to their communities, they are living in partially damaged or makeshift houses, which put them in danger of exposure to weather and health risks. According to the report, damage to water supply and sanitation systems in several affected areas is limiting access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, increasing public health risks, particularly in displacement settings. An estimated 109 health facilities and infrastructure require repairs on water and sanitation amenities to become functional.

Households depending on subsistence farming, fisheries, daily wage labour, and small businesses are reportedly seeing severe disruptions to their livelihoods. The report notes how the loss of crops, livestock, fishing gear, and other small productive assets have disproportionately affected poorer households with limited coping capacity and little access to compensation.