Cyclone Ditwah - Situation Report (6 February 2026)

At the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Humanitarian Country Team launched the Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP) on 11 December 2025 to support 658,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by cyclone Ditwah between December 2025 and April 2026.

Over 216,000 people have been reached by the HPP response to date, as implemented by 68 partner organizations, including 44 NGOs and 10 INGOs, across 25 Districts. Over 50% of the people reached are female and 4500 are People with Disabilities. 

The 5W online dashboard, has been operationalized and serves as a central repository for all response interventions,  including details on beneficiaries, assistance provided, geographic locations, and implementing partners.

Protracted displacement continues, with more than 165,000 people still displaced or living with host families. 85 Safety Centres remain operational, hosting approximately 6,680 people. Protection risks, particularly gender-based violence, persist in these settings, with women and children facing heightened risks. Reporting remains low due to stigma and the normalization of violence.

Recently updated data identified 1,682 affected primary and secondary schools as being affected by the cyclone, impacting nearly 823,000 children.

The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Network initiated a training of trainers scheme to strengthen awareness, prevention, reporting and response. Representatives of 17 CSOs and international NGOs and 9 UN agencies were trained during a 2-day workshop in Colombo, with plans for repeat trainings in Sinhalese and Tamil.

 Out of the required funding of US$35.3 million to implement the HPP, US$22.4 million has been received to date. Underfunded sectors in continued need for support include Health, Agriculture, Early Recovery, Nutrition and Education.