522,000 children and 263,000 elderly affected by the mega-disaster

26-Dec-2025

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Of the 2.3 million people affected by Cyclone Ditwah, 522,000 are children, 263,000 are elderly, and 21,200 are pregnant women. Additionally, 281,830 children under five, 19,021 pregnant women, and 96,637 lactating mothers requiring high nutritional support have been severely affected.

Floods and landslides caused by the cyclone killed hundreds and displaced hundreds of thousands, destroying homes and livelihoods.

A joint assessment by three organizations identified this as the worst humanitarian crisis Sri Lanka has faced in two decades, affecting all 25 districts.

Severely affected areas include Colombo and Gampaha (Western Province), Batticaloa, Ampara, and Trincomalee (Eastern Province), Mannar and Mullaitivu (Northern Province), and Kandy and Nuwara Eliya (Central Highlands).

Over 16,000 km of roads and 278 km of railway lines were damaged, severely restricting inter-provincial transport. Thousands of homes were fully or partially destroyed, forcing many into temporary shelters.

Damage to 1,339 schools and 2,720 preschools disrupted education for 458,600 schoolchildren and 68,000 preschool students.

An estimated 39% of families lack sufficient daily food due to damage to agriculture, fisheries, equipment, displacement, and limited market access. Immediate food and livelihood assistance is required.

Targeted nutrition programs for children under five, pregnant women, and lactating mothers must be implemented urgently, especially in Puttalam, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Colombo, and Ampara districts.