The United Nations has announced a $35 million assistance package for Sri Lanka to support recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwah, which triggered widespread flooding and landslides across the country, killing hundreds and displacing thousands.
The UN said the funds will be mobilised over the next four years to address urgent humanitarian needs, including food, healthcare, shelter, clean water and support for displaced families. The announcement was made on December 11, 2025, as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with economic strain following its recent debt crisis.
According to UN officials, the support will prioritise communities most affected by the cyclone and include early recovery measures aimed at rebuilding livelihoods and restoring basic services. The initiative is part of the post-Ditwah Humanitarian Priorities Plan launched by the UN and its partners to guide emergency and recovery efforts in the coming months.
At least 638 people have been confirmed dead, while 193 others remain missing since the cyclone made landfall on November 16. Weeks of heavy rainfall destroyed homes, schools and critical infrastructure, forcing many families into overcrowded shelters with limited access to essential supplies.
UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche said Cyclone Ditwah had hit the country’s poorest communities hardest, warning that rising poverty levels—now affecting nearly 25 percent of the population—are worsening the humanitarian impact. He also cautioned that overcrowded shelters pose increased safety risks, particularly for women and children.
The UN has so far secured $9.5 million in early contributions from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with an additional $4.5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. However, officials said an additional $26 million is still needed to meet growing humanitarian demands.
Aid agencies report that long-term challenges remain severe, with many villages lacking clean water, farms and rice fields destroyed, and waterborne diseases on the rise. More than 462,000 children are among those affected, while many schools remain damaged or closed.
The UN said the new funding will help ease the burden on Sri Lanka’s strained economy but stressed that sustained international support will be critical for the country’s full recovery from the disaster.
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