Politics

Cyclone Ditwah has left about 2.3 million people affected by flooding in Sri Lanka, with over half of them being women. The cyclone hit the country on 28 November. According to a new analysis by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), floodwaters covered more than 1.1 million hectares, which is nearly 20 percent of Sri Lanka's land area. This disaster caused major damage to homes, infrastructure, and essential services. The analysis used data from the Sri Lankan government to show the cyclone's widespread impact, marking it as one of the worst flooding events in the country in many years. Many of the people in the flooded areas were already facing hardships, such as unstable income, high debt, and limited disaster preparedness. For them, even small shocks can lead to serious long-term problems. The floodwaters affected nearly 720,000 buildings, which is about one in every twelve buildings across the country. Over 16,000 kilometers of roads, enough to circle Sri Lanka's coast more than twelve times, were flooded. Additionally, more than 278 kilometers of railway tracks and 480 bridges were also in areas that experienced flooding. Azusa Kubota, the UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, stated, “Cyclone Ditwah struck regions already weakened by years of economic stress.” The impacted population includes around 1.2 million women, 522,000 children, and 263,000 elderly individuals, with over 60% of those affected living in just two districts: Colombo and Gampaha. Many residents in the affected areas are situated in high-risk zones, highlighting the need for permanent solutions. This high level of exposure is putting a strain on essential services. Kubota emphasized that “Where high flooding and high vulnerability overlap, recovery is likely to be slower and more costly. Early action in these locations is critical.” In the hilly areas of the country, the cyclone also triggered about 1,200 landslides, which can cut off at-risk communities from vital services like health care and hinder rescue efforts.