Sri Lanka has issued an international appeal for assistance following extensive flooding and landslides, and Switzerland has responded by offering support, which the Sri Lankan authorities accepted. The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed that a six-member rescue team, primarily specialists in water, sanitation, and hygiene, has been deployed to the country. In addition, a disaster risk reduction expert from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), based in India, will also travel to Sri Lanka. The SDC is providing drinking water modules capable of supplying 10,000 people.
The Swiss response is part of broader humanitarian efforts, as the SDC recently donated CHF500,000 to the Philippine Red Cross to aid populations affected by typhoons. Additional funds, including CHF200,000, have been earmarked to support reconstruction in Vietnam. Neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia have not yet requested international assistance.
Massive flooding and landslides have caused severe damage across several countries in South and Southeast Asia in recent weeks. Sri Lanka has been particularly affected, with preliminary reports indicating that 390 people have died and 250 remain missing.
