Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Launched DREF Operation to Support Cyclone Ditwah-Affected Communities

In response to the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has launched a Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) operation to assist communities severely affected by floods and landslides.

This emergency intervention aims to provide immediate relief and early recovery support to vulnerable families impacted by the disaster. The operation addresses urgent humanitarian needs while strengthening community resilience in affected areas.

The DREF-supported response is being implemented across 20 districts, namely:

 Kandy, Badulla, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, Gampaha, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Kurunegala, Mannar, Matale, Mullaitivu, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Rathnapura, Trincomalee, and Vavuniya.

Key Sectors of Intervention include:

• Cash Voucher Assistance (CVA)

• Distribution of Non-Food Relief Items (NFI)

• Health and First Aid Support

• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Hygiene Promotion

• Psycho-social Support (PSS)

• Community Clean-up Campaigns and Well Cleaning Activities

• Education Support

• Capacity Building for Volunteers and Staff

Through this comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society continues to uphold its commitment to supporting affected communities on their path to recovery.