Natural disasters show that marginalised communities need more help

Whilst recognising the efforts and humanitarian motives of all rescue efforts underway, we note for the future the need to move towards civilian systems. (Picture courtesy social media)

Feminist Collective for Economic Justice, a collective of feminist economists, scholars, feminist activists, university students and lawyers, through a press release demands prioritising marginalised communities in disaster preparedness, equitable relief and economic justice.

The following is an excerpt of the release: 

It’s been many days of relentless rains and winds devastating the island as Cyclonic Storm Ditwah approached and made landfalls in Sri Lanka. At the time of writing, we are heartbroken that close to 355 people have lost their lives and as many as 366 people are missing. Nearly 15,000 to 25,000 homes are damaged, and more than 59,000 families have been displaced. 

The highest casualties were reported from Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts; areas especially prone to landslides and home to already marginalised and vulnerable working class tea plantation workers. Telecommunication lines are down in many districts, leaving people without a way to call for help. A state of emergency was declared on November 28, 2025. First responders working tirelessly have been providing support. However, with the prevailing conditions, the human impact and death toll are expected to increase.

The lack of information, transparency and coordination have left communities in the most vulnerable areas stranded with no help. Although dedicated disaster management systems have been in place in Sri Lanka since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, these systems turned out to be ill-prepared. Evacuation notices were issued, often only after roads were flooded. 

Official government communications, including those from Disaster Management Centers and the Meteorology Department, are issued in Sinhala, even when addressing affected regions that were primarily Tamil-speaking. Default practices of institutional racism creeped in even at a time of dire need. The lack of a trained and equipped civilian disaster response cadre has meant dependence on the military at this time. Whilst recognising the efforts and humanitarian motives of all rescue efforts underway, we note for the future the need to move towards civilian systems. 

Vulnerable communities

Communities who are already marginalised and vulnerable are the worst hit by the disaster. Low-income and working-class households are bearing the brunt. Households’ dependent on fishing are unable to go out to fish; those who have home-based livelihoods such as food preparation, basket-weaving, packing spices, sewing, etc., cannot earn due to disruption to transport and access to markets. Those dependent on agriculture have lost their entire crop. 

Free Trade Zone workers are adversely affected. Workers living and working in and around the industrial waste canals are exposed to deteriorating water sanitation and severe hygiene risks. It is shocking that even in these extremely perilous conditions, workers are being forced to work. 

Plantation workers have lost homes, loved ones and continue to battle landslides occurring in close proximity to one another. Women workers, especially domestic workers, have to juggle the unthinkable choice between going to work and addressing structural damage to their homes.

The impact on low-income and working-class households is not short term as incomes of the entire season’s produce are lost.

 Along with the poor and working class communities, other marginalised groups are entirely invibilised. Queer and trans people, especially those living without familial support or are forced to live in unsafe homes, are neglected at times of disaster. Access to shelter and evacuation is challenging at best and often an acid test for many reasons. The lack of identity documents that affirm their preferred gender/name adds to the challenges faced.  Along with such obstacles, the wrath of social stigma puts this group at the very bottom of the rung, especially during crises when many are scrambling for the limited support being provided. 

In post-disaster contexts, there is often an increase in domestic and sexual violence. While existing hotlines have been publicised by the state, they are ill-equipped to deal with the increased demand. Women who attempted to access emergency support were sent away showing the unpreparedness of the response structures.  

 The climate crisis is further aggravated by an economic structure that marginalises the poor.

In this context, we are disappointed that the NPP Government’s policies reflected in the 2026 budget have failed, yet again, to prioritise social protection. Cutting off people from social protection or describing the cash transfers as begging, as Minister Sunil Handunetti has done, demonstrates the disconnect between policymakers and people’s needs. 

Universal social protection must be considered as part and parcel of disaster preparedness and post-disaster economic and social resilience. This resilience is built through these systems as a sustainable and reliable connection between the state and citizens. 

The global debt burden mirrors the climate crisis and is disproportionately upon the feeble shoulders of poorer countries such as Sri Lanka. People are barely surviving the economic crisis and rising costs of living while more than 50% of households are heavily in debt. 

As FCEJ, we strongly reiterate that the NPP Government must renegotiate the conditions stipulated by the IMF and other lenders in the coming months. The Government must choose to be on the side of its people and not side with its creditors as the nation struggles to emerge from this disaster.

Urgent demands:

• Rescue and relief efforts must be sensitive to those who are already marginalised.
• All state communication relating to disasters and relief must be in all languages.
• Involve communities in decision-making processes of disaster response and relief work, particularly those most vulnerable.
• Plans for return, rebuilding, and restitution must take into account the impact on women, informal workers, their families and on those living with disabilities. 
• Provide special support lines for socially stigmatized or invibilised communities such as LGBTQIA+ communities and people living with disabilities. 
• Special effective support lines must be urgently activated to address gender based violence and child protection.
• Establish permanent Grama Niladhari level disaster preparedness committees led by women, youth, disability advocates, estate workers, and local first responders. 
• Communities should be equipped with solar powered sirens and megaphone announcement systems to ensure timely warnings even when electricity and communication networks fail.
• Existing mechanisms such as the Ministry for Disaster Management must be strengthened to fulfill their mandate rather than replacing their role with armed forces in the face of disaster. 
• Sri Lanka’s disaster preparedness must receive serious attention given the increasing number and damages inflicted by cyclones and other natural disasters.
• A long-term program is needed that ensures safe housing, right to land and stable access to livelihood. 
• Launch universal social protection schemes that can efficiently and meaningfully provide a cushion in times of disasters. 
• Review development, investment and infrastructure projects for climate impact.  
• Urgent negotiations should be initiated with the IMF and other creditors to cancel debt repayment and reverse austerity policies in this crisis context.
•  (Feminist Collective for Economic Justice came together in April 2022 to understand, analyze and give voice to policy recommendations based on lived realities in the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka. We can be reached via  [email protected])