Thousands remain homeless weeks after Sri Lanka cyclone

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By Editor_1
A woman carrying a child walks near a landslide-affected area in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, in Maspanna on Dec. 13, 2025. Some 1.1 million people are affected, and thousands continue to be homeless six weeks after the cyclone hit the island nation, a UN report says -Ishara Kodikara/AFP

By Quintus Colombage

COLOMBO -Thousands of people remain without permanent shelter and basic necessities six weeks after a powerful cyclone devastated large parts of Sri Lanka, a Catholic bishop said, urging authorities to act with urgency.

“The victims whose homes were destroyed or damaged are facing severe difficulties because houses are not available for rent,” said Bishop Jude Nishantha Silva of Badulla.

Badulla is among the worst affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the island nation on Nov. 28.

It killed more than 600 people across at least 25 districts and destroyed or damaged about 46,000 houses. The disaster caused an estimated US$4.1 billion in losses, equivalent to about 4% of Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product.

In a social media post on Jan. 19, Silva said survivors were struggling to access state assistance due to excessive paperwork and the absence of clear government procedures. He called on authorities to simplify documentation requirements to speed up relief.

The government has ordered evacuations from areas declared unsafe due to structural damage, but many families have nowhere to go, the bishop said, adding that schools currently serving as shelters cannot yet be vacated.

A United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report published on Jan. 14 echoed these concerns, noting that poor coordination and delays in government approvals for housing repairs have slowed rehabilitation efforts for about 1.1 million vulnerable people.

Around 24,000 people remain displaced in the most severely affected regions, the report said.

Sara Nuwani, a Colombo-based activist, said many displaced families are surviving by taking loans from informal lenders, which risks pushing them deeper into debt.

At least 227,323 farming families face food insecurity after standing crops across more than 106,000 hectares were destroyed by flooding, Nuwani told UCA News.

She warned that thousands could face starvation unless authorities and volunteers organize sustained support for at least a year.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said the government must provide maximum relief, including direct assistance to help families secure housing and food.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Jan. 9 that the government plans to build between 20,000 and 25,000 new houses and provide cash assistance to families to rebuild damaged homes.

-UCAN

Editor_1
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