Thursday Apr 09, 2026
Thursday Apr 09, 2026
Thursday, 9 April 2026 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka’s recovery from Cyclone Ditwah is entering a slower phase, with more than 149,000 people still displaced despite a steady scale-up in humanitarian assistance, according to the latest update by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
As of 3 April, over 291,000 people have been reached under the Humanitarian Priority Plan (HPP), implemented by 68 partner organisations across all 25 districts. Women account for the majority of beneficiaries, while 5,200 persons with disabilities have also been assisted.
Displacement has declined from a peak of 233,000 following the disaster, but a large number of affected individuals continue to stay with host families or in temporary locations, pointing to a shift towards more dispersed and prolonged displacement patterns.
The number of safety centres has reduced to 29, currently housing about 800 families in the Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, and Kegalle Districts. However, authorities and humanitarian partners are now moving towards tent-based arrangements in some areas, while facing pressure to define a clear transition out of temporary shelter.
Resettlement remains constrained by delays in hazard verification and land clearance, with the National Building and Research Institute (NBRI) operating at capacity amid a high volume of assessments required to facilitate safe return and reconstruction.
It noted that the Defence Ministry, Disaster Management Division has issued three new circulars consolidating all previous Government compensation programs. The criteria, transfer values, eligibility requirements, related instructions, and ongoing distribution efforts remain unchanged. Minor amendments have been made to expand access for disadvantaged populations, especially in relation to housing and resettlement.
Following damage from Cyclone Ditwah, the Cabinet recently approved relief for replanting crops, including grants of up to Rs. 500,000 per hectare for tea, Rs. 400,000 per hectare for rubber, and Rs. 750,000 per hectare for coconut, alongside support for affected field crops, fruits, vegetables, and minor export crops.
The OCHA warned that external developments could complicate recovery. Global supply chain disruptions and rising fuel and energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict are expected to feed into domestic inflation and strain household welfare, particularly among those already affected by the cyclone.
The report notes potential spillovers to food security and livelihoods through higher transport and input costs, alongside risks to tourism and remittance inflows if the situation persists.
“A prolonged conflict in the Middle East could deepen several interconnected risk factors for already vulnerable populations, through increased cost for fuel, cooking gas, and basic commodities, as well as disruptions to earnings and livelihoods, including from tourism and remittances,” the OCHA noted.
“There are also risks to food security, particularly if fertiliser costs remain high and transport becomes more expensive. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) is monitoring the situation and will prepare measures including prioritisation of activities and advocacy for access to fuel for implementing partners,” the UN agency said.
Separately, prolonged heat and dry conditions are beginning to affect recovery operations, with lower hydroelectric generation raising the risk of power disruptions, while water shortages are emerging in some affected areas.
Funding gaps continue to weigh on the response. Of the $ 35.3 million required for the HPP, $ 23.4 million has been pledged or received, leaving sectors such as health, agriculture, early recovery, and nutrition underfunded.
Cyclone Ditwah affected around 2.2 million people across all 25 districts, causing widespread flooding and landslides and resulting in 646 fatalities, according to official assessments.
