IOM sees fragile recovery in Nuwara Eliya as Cyclone Ditwah displacement risks persist

• Nearly 69,000 displaced after November disaster; about 1,800 still displaced as at March
• Around 60,000 living in landslide ‘red zones’ classified as displaced despite returning home

An assessment by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has found that recovery in Nuwara Eliya District following Cyclone Ditwah remains uneven, with thousands still displaced and tens of thousands exposed to ongoing landslide risk despite high return rates.

Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall on 28 November 2025, triggered widespread flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka’s central highlands. Nuwara Eliya District was among the worst affected, with nearly 90 fatalities reported and extensive damage to housing, infrastructure and agricultural livelihoods.

According to the IOM report released this week, approximately 69,039 individuals were displaced in the weeks following the disaster, making Nuwara Eliya one of the largest sources of disaster-induced displacement nationally. During the initial phase alone, an estimated 45,333 individuals were forced from their homes.

As of early March 2026, displacement has reduced significantly, with 1,798 individuals remaining displaced, including 915 in safety centres and 883 staying with relatives, friends or in rented accommodation.

However, the report highlights a larger at-risk population, noting that around 60,000 people continue to live in areas designated as landslide ‘red zones’. Although these households have returned, authorities classify them as displaced due to the high-risk nature of their locations.

Overall, approximately 98% of displaced individuals have returned. However, return patterns vary across divisions, with Nuwara Eliya DS Division recording the lowest return rate at 92%, while several other divisions reported full returns. No cases of repeated displacement were reported, and only around 1,250 individuals, or about 3%, are expected to face displacement in the coming months.

The assessment underscores that return has often taken place under constrained conditions, with households resuming daily life despite unresolved structural damage, limited income opportunities and continued exposure to environmental risk.

“Recovery in Nuwara Eliya District should be understood not only as a process of physical return, but as a longer-term transition shaped by risk perception, livelihood stability, and access to secure housing and land,” the report notes.

The findings show that displacement and return dynamics are shaped by a combination of environmental hazards, housing vulnerability and economic constraints. In plantation communities, insecure land tenure, dependence on estate-based livelihoods and limited access to alternative housing continue to restrict relocation options.

Priority needs identified across affected communities are dominated by financial and structural recovery requirements. Cash or financial assistance and planned relocation support were cited by 97% of respondents, while livelihood support, including market access and inputs such as tools, seeds and equipment, was also widely identified. Protection services and access to landslide risk information were among other key needs.

While essential services have largely been restored, gaps persist across several sectors. Electricity access has been fully restored, and most schools and health facilities are operational, though some areas report only partial functionality. Access to safe drinking water and sanitation remains uneven, particularly in Nuwara Eliya, Norwood and Kothmale East.

Infrastructure recovery remains incomplete, with 77% of roads and bridges reported as only partially functional. Livelihood recovery has also been slow, with only 43% of respondents indicating that income-generating activities have fully resumed.

The report identifies psychological trauma and social tensions as key barriers to sustainable return, cited by 97% of respondents, alongside housing requiring repairs and limited financial resources. Economic constraints, including lack of livelihood opportunities (67%) and insufficient financial assistance (63%), continue to weigh on recovery.

The findings suggest that while large-scale displacement has subsided, Nuwara Eliya remains in a prolonged recovery phase, requiring targeted interventions in housing, livelihoods, risk communication and psychosocial support to ensure durable and safe recovery outcomes.