UN Cyclone Ditwah relief programme reaches 575,000 people across Sri Lanka

• Government is continuing efforts to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems and improve coordination among national, provincial and local institutions to enhance resilience against future disasters   

The United Nations-backed humanitarian programme launched in response to Cyclone Ditwah has directly assisted approximately 575,000 people across Sri Lanka, with 75 per cent of the US$35.4 million relief appeal already disbursed, officials said yesterday.   

The Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP), which covered all 25 districts and delivered assistance through nine key sectors, was formally concluded at a ceremony in Colombo attended by Commissioner General of Essential Services and Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka 

Marc-André Franche.   

According to official figures, the programme reached 87 per cent of its target population of more than 650,000 people affected by 

Cyclone Ditwah.   

Relief measures included a Rs. 27,000 allowance for affected families distributed through Divisional Secretariats, temporary housing assistance and a range of other support programmes aimed at helping communities recover from the disaster.   

Addressing the event, Franche said the success of the programme reflected strong political leadership and the swift response mounted to address the humanitarian crisis.   

Chandrakeerthi said Sri Lanka had demonstrated how effective national leadership and strong partnerships could ensure the fair and efficient delivery of relief assistance during emergencies. He noted that data and assessments provided by the United Nations had played a key role in enabling rapid interventions.   

He added that the Government is continuing efforts to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems and improve coordination among national, provincial and local institutions to enhance resilience against 

future disasters.