Cyclone Ditwah causes devastation in Sri Lanka: What you need to know

On 28 November Sri Lanka experienced the worst natural disaster in decades, with the Sri Lankan government calling a state of emergency.

Cyclone Ditwah has caused devastation across the country. Days of relentless rain have caused landslides and mudflows destroying entire villages, and brought flooding on an extraordinary scale across the entire country, destroying homes, farmland and vital infrastructure.

Over 1 million people have been affected, and many thousands left without shelter, food or clean water. Many areas remain cut off, and the full extent of the destruction will not be known until isolated communities have been reached and the flood waters have receded.

Sadly, this natural disaster has hit at a time when Sri Lankan people are already suffering from the severe effects of climate change and the daily hardships of an economic crisis and unfair debt burden.

But with support from people like you, our local partners are working tirelessly to help the growing needs of families devastated by this crisis. Here’s everything you need to know.

What has happened in Sri Lanka?

Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka on 28 November, bringing the worst flooding the country has seen in decades. Cyclones bring extremely strong winds, storms and heavy rain, which have affected over 1.1 million people across Sri Lanka.

Sadly, as of 2 December, 410 people have died, with hundreds still missing, and entire communities have been completely destroyed. Over 200,000 people have lost their homes and are now sheltering in places such as churches and safety centres.

CAFOD’s Country Representative, Grace How, said:

"A state of emergency has been declared and what Sri Lanka needs now is unconditional aid rather than loans to help the nation respond to this emergency."

Who is most affected?

A third of the country is without electricity or running water, making it difficult for families to access safe drinking water and help.

Yet, the full extent of the damage is still unknown as rural communities in mountainous areas are extremely hard to reach due to landslides and the collapse of major bridges.

“They need our support now. They need it immediately, they need food, dry clothes and shelter,” said Chameera Perera, local partner project coordinator for the Centre for Society and Religion.

Sadly, the hardest hit communities are the ones already affected by climate change and unfair debt, such as farmers in rural regions.

“Paddy fields are submerged with flooded water that has destroyed the harvest. This will have a severe impact on food security for the rural population in the coming months and years,” said CAFOD’s Country Representative, Grace How.

Farmers and ordinary families in Sri Lanka are already feeling the effects of unfair global debt. Sri Lanka is one of 54 countries crippled by debt at extortionately high interest rates. This means that instead of having money to pay for vital services like hospitals, schools and roads, the government have to pay off debt to private banks and hedge funds.

This makes a disaster this size even more devastating. Sri Lanka needs unconditional support to help families caught up in this crisis.

How are we helping?

“The Church immediately came forward to assist those affected. The churches were open,” said Fr Rohan Silva, from local partner the Centre for Society and Religion.

Despite the huge challenges, with your support our local Church partners are working tirelessly to help our neighbours in need.

Thanks to supporters like you, our local Church partner, Caritas Sri Lanka, is responding to the urgent need for life-saving food, safe drinking water and immediate support through the Catholic Church.

In the east, our local partner, Peace and Community Action, is helping families return safely to their homes with a focus on long-term support to help rebuild lives after this disaster.

Support like yours is helping farmers recover after their crops have been destroyed. Our local partner, Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform, is helping farmers access seeds to replant their fields after the flooding – working with 5,000 farmers for long-term support.

Sadly, hundreds of people have lost loved ones in the cyclone as well as their entire lives, such as homes, treasured belongings and essentials like shelter. With your support, our local partners are meeting the mental health needs of these people in a crisis – sharing coping mechanisms, leading community groups and helping them to slowly rebuild their lives.