The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched a CHF 5 million Emergency Appeal to support the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) in responding to devastating floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the island nation on 27 November 2025. The cyclone unleashed over 350 mm of rain within 24 hours in some areas, triggering widespread flooding and landslides across all 25 districts and affecting more than 1.46 million people, marking one of Sri Lanka’s worst disasters in decades.
John Entwistle, IFRC Head of Country Cluster Delegation for South Asia, described the scale of the disaster as immense. “While floodwaters are receding in some areas, humanitarian needs remain critical. People have lost loved ones and homes, and urgently need food, water, shelter, and medical assistance. Over 1.5 million people face food insecurity due to crop losses, disrupted livelihoods, and rising prices,” he said.
Authorities report hundreds of deaths, with many still missing, while search and rescue operations continue. More than 230,000 people remain displaced, sheltering in overcrowded safety centres with limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Over 20,800 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and severe infrastructure damage—including 78 roads and 15 bridges impacted, nearly 278,000 buildings inundated, and more than 65,000 power and telecommunications outages—continues to restrict access to affected communities. Flooding remains a risk in downstream areas, with river levels in key basins still rising despite reduced rainfall.
The IFRC has already released CHF 100,000 from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), with an additional CHF 1 million allocation underway to scale up operations ahead of the full appeal. Pre-positioned stocks of shelter materials, hygiene kits, and health supplies, along with Early Action Protocols and climate adaptation measures, have enabled rapid response in high-risk areas.
More than 3,500 Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteers have been mobilized to conduct rapid assessments, assist with evacuations, provide first aid, and distribute safe water, food, hygiene kits, bedding, and other essential supplies. “Our volunteers are working tirelessly to support communities who have lost everything,” said Dr. Mahesh Gunasekara, Secretary General of SLRCS. “Urgent needs include cooked food, safe water, medicines, and shelter, but the scale of devastation means sustained support is essential to prevent worsening food insecurity, disease, and poverty.”
Critical services, including hospitals and health facilities, have been flooded or damaged, limiting access to care and disrupting maternal, child, and reproductive health services. Overcrowded evacuation centres are struggling to meet the needs of pregnant and lactating women, older persons, and people with disabilities, while mental health and psychosocial needs are rising. Safe drinking water remains critically compromised due to damaged and contaminated water systems.
The IFRC Emergency Appeal aims to support emergency shelter, health services, water and sanitation, livelihoods, and protection, while building community resilience to future climate-related shocks.
