Cyclone Ditwah 2025: Unfolding Situation Reports on Sri Lanka’s Worst Flood and Landslide Disaster in Recent History
| Situation Report – 04/12/2025 |
Below is the Situation Report 07 on the ongoing response to Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.
Highlight of the Day
- Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteers reached 52 households (173 people) in Gampaha District today, delivering essential household items including jerry cans for safe water storage, sleeping mats, garments, and personal hygiene kits.
- This distribution was part of a field assessment mission led by SLRCS National Headquarters with IFRC and ECHO representatives, ensuring immediate relief for families sheltering in government safety centres.
- Volunteers also visited inundated homes and engaged with local leaders to identify urgent needs, while mobile medical teams provided first aid and health support in affected areas.
| Situation Report – 02/12/2025 |
Below is the Situation Report 06 on the ongoing response to Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.
Current Situation
- 1.37 million people affected across 25 districts; 390 deaths, 352 missing. 204,597 people sheltering in 1,368 safety centers; many overcrowded with limited WASH facilities.
- Over 20,000 homes destroyed, 206 major roads blocked, and 10 bridges washed away. Floodwaters are receding, but access challenges and humanitarian needs remain critical.
Actions Taken
- SLRCS mobilized 3,500+ volunteers for rapid assessments, first aid, and relief distributions.
- Surge personnel is currently mobilised to support the operation
- CHF 100,000 from IFRC-DREF emergency Advanced Payment Request currently under processing. DREF request of CHF 1 million underway to scale up response.
| Situation Report – 02/12/2025 |
Below is the Situation Report 05 on the ongoing response to Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), supported by IFRC, continues to provide life-saving assistance across all 25 affected districts. Over 1.1 million people have been impacted, with severe flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage reported nationwide.
Key Highlights
- State of Emergency declared; over 196,000 people sheltering in 1,494 safety centers.
- Major access constraints due to damaged roads and bridges; remote communities remain cut off.
- SLRCS volunteers deployed for assessments, relief distributions, and health support.
- IFRC is launching an Emergency Appeal to scale up support for SLRCS in addressing urgent needs, including WASH, shelter, health including livelihood for longer term interventions.
| Situation Report – 30/11/2025 |
Below is the Situation Report 04 on the evolving emergency in Sri Lanka, which is also impacting parts of India. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) is considering requesting support for its response operations.
Key Highlights
- Severe Impact: Over 968,000 people affected across 25 districts, with 193 deaths and 228 missing. More than 41,000 families are sheltering in official safety centers, while thousands remain with relatives. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Sri Lanka has requested for international assistance.
- Infrastructure Collapse: Major transport routes are blocked, and 10 bridges washed away, cutting off access to remote communities. Approximately one-third of the country faces power and water outages.
- SLRCS Response: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has mobilized 3,500+ volunteers for assessments and First Aid services, while distributing essential household items such as water, hygiene kits, bedding, and clothing to landslide-affected districts.
- Operational Challenges: Road closures, incomplete damage assessments, and high risk of secondary landslides continue to hamper relief efforts. Remote areas remain inaccessible due to flooding and landslide hazards.
- Coordination Efforts:
- WASH cluster meeting held on 29 November; Health cluster meeting scheduled for 01 December.
- DMC leading national coordination and planning a Joint Rapid Needs Assessment, with the report expected within 72 hours.
- UN initiating cluster activation for Health and WASH under the Resident Coordinator.
| Situation Report – 28/11/2025 |
Below is the Situation Report on the evolving emergency in Sri Lanka, which is also impacting parts of India. A DREF for Response is currently under consideration by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS).
Key highlights
- Cyclone Ditwah has intensified into a severe tropical storm, bringing unprecedented rainfall and landslides across 20 districts in Sri Lanka.
- The humanitarian toll is significant, with 56 confirmed deaths, 21 people missing, and 14 injured.
- Approximately 43,991 individuals from 12,313 families have been affected, with major displacement challenges reported.
- Over 3,684 individuals are currently in official safety shelters, while 3,731 are staying with relatives due to limited shelter capacity.
- Road access remains severely restricted in several districts, rail services are disrupted except for the Jaffna route, and power outages have impacted around 45,000 connections.
- The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) is leading the national response, establishing temporary evacuation centres and maintaining a red alert as the cyclone continues its northwestward track.
- Immediate needs include emergency shelter materials, safe drinking water, hygiene kits, food assistance, medical supplies, and mental health support.
Colombo, Sri Lanka – 28 November 2025 – Sri Lanka continues to confront one of the worst flood disasters in recent history, with relentless rains since 24 November submerging communities, destroying homes, cutting off major roads, and erasing decades of livelihoods.
According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and verified media reports, more than 1.5 million people across the country have been severely affected. With rain still falling and water levels continuing to rise, the situation remains precarious, heightening risks of further damage and humanitarian needs.
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has activated emergency response operations through its network of 25 branches, deploying Branch Disaster Response Teams (BDRTs) to support rescue efforts, provide first aid, distribute relief items, and assess urgent community needs. Volunteers are working around the clock, standing with the most vulnerable families as the crisis unfolds.
Every donation – big or small – has the power to make a direct and immediate impact. Contributions help provide essential supplies such as clean water, dry rations, hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and other urgent relief items. Humanitarian support at this stage is critical to prevent further loss of life and safeguard thousands of families displaced or stranded by the floods.
This is one of the worst crises Sri Lanka has ever faced. At the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, we urge support from Sri Lankans who are not affected, as well as from the international community, to help us assist the communities that have been severely impacted. As a trusted humanitarian organization, we ensure that every contribution reaches affected families equitably and without delay,” said the Secretary General.
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society calls upon individuals, corporate partners, and global humanitarian supporters to extend their compassion during this unprecedented emergency. Your contribution can deliver life-saving assistance and help affected communities recover with dignity and hope.
HELP SRI LANKA RISE AGAIN!
For donations and more information on ongoing relief efforts, please visit the official donation portal.
