By Abdullahi Lukman
About 1.8 million people have remained affected across Sri Lanka following a powerful cyclone-made landfall on the island’s eastern coast on November 28, triggering widespread flooding and landslides in all 25 districts, according to United Nations assessments.
Although some displaced families have begun returning home, renewed heavy rainfall has caused fresh flooding, landslides and road closures, particularly in the central districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa.
More than 1.2 million people, including about 527,000 children, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
A joint rapid needs assessment by national authorities and humanitarian partners found extensive damage across all nine provinces, with essential services severely disrupted and increased risks facing women, children and persons with disabilities.
Food insecurity is worsening, with nearly one in three households struggling to access enough food and many reducing meals to cope.
UNICEF reported critical gaps in child protection, education, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene services.
Thousands of children remain displaced in overcrowded shelters or with host families, where poor living conditions heighten protection risks, including gender-based violence.
The education sector has been heavily impacted, with more than 1,300 schools and six universities damaged.
About 500 schools are still being used as temporary shelters, forcing authorities to relocate students to nearby facilities and increasing the need for temporary learning spaces.
Humanitarian agencies have scaled up emergency assistance, providing WASH services to more than 76,000 people, nutrition support to nearly 9,000 and child protection services to over 5,600 individuals.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that more than 272,000 people remain displaced.
As of mid-December, authorities reported 643 deaths, 183 people missing and over 107,000 homes damaged or destroyed.
Economic losses are significant. A World Bank assessment estimated total damage at $4.1 billion, equivalent to 4 per cent of Sri Lanka’s GDP.
Agriculture losses exceed $800 million, with more than 58,000 hectares of paddy land flooded, threatening food production and farmer livelihoods.
To address urgent needs, the government and humanitarian partners launched a $35.3 million Humanitarian Priorities Plan.
However, funding shortfalls remain, with UNICEF receiving less than half of the $7.8 million required for its child-focused response.
Aid agencies warn that without sustained funding, recovery will be slow, particularly for children whose safety, education and well-being remain at risk.
