An estimated 2.3 million people, more than half of them women, were living in areas flooded by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka on 28 November. New UNDP geospatial analysis reveals that more than 1.1 million hectares—almost one-fifth of the country—were inundated, causing extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and essential services.
According to disaster-related data from the Government of Sri Lanka, the cyclone has become one of the most severe flooding events in decades. Over half of those living in flooded areas were already facing multiple vulnerabilities such as unstable income, high debt, and limited capacity to manage shocks, meaning the cyclone could have long-term repercussions for these households.
The flooding reached nearly 720,000 buildings—around one in every twelve structures nationwide. More than 16,000 kilometers of roads, 278 kilometers of railway track, and 480 bridges were also exposed to the floodwaters, severely disrupting mobility and service delivery. Colombo and Gampaha districts accounted for more than 60% of the people affected, including 1.2 million women, 522,000 children, and 263,000 older persons.
In Sri Lanka’s inland hilly regions, the cyclone triggered around 1,200 landslides, further isolating vulnerable communities by blocking access to health care, emergency response, and essential services. The combination of high exposure and pre-existing vulnerability is expected to slow down recovery and increase its cost.
UNDP emphasizes that Cyclone Ditwah struck at a time when Sri Lanka was still emerging from a severe economic crisis, deepening the urgency for coordinated recovery efforts. The agency is calling for scaled-up early recovery support to restore essential services, assist affected households, repair critical infrastructure, and strengthen local systems for climate resilience.
With the country unable to take on additional debt to rebuild, UNDP urges international partners to provide affordable financing and innovative instruments to support rapid, resilient recovery. The UN family is working alongside national authorities and communities to deliver relief and ensure that reconstruction efforts not only repair damage but also help Sri Lanka rebuild stronger and better.
