ChildFund Sri Lanka mobilises emergency response

Sri Lanka is confronting one of its most devastating flood emergencies in recent history, with more than 1.1 million people seeking refuge in over 1,500 safety centres nationwide. The disaster has claimed 355 lives, with 366 persons still missing, as communities across multiple districts grapple with unprecedented destruction.

ChildFund Sri Lanka has launched a comprehensive emergency response programme, having verified the safety of 8,232 children supported through programmes across the affected regions. The current assessments reveal that 3,852 children are directly impacted by the floods, 440 have been displaced from their homes and 2,452 remain unreachable due to severely damaged infrastructure and telecommunications blackouts affecting the entire GN divisions.

The organisation has activated phase one emergency interventions across five priority districts, deploying Rs.15 million (approximately US $ 49,000) to support the immediate humanitarian needs. The response focuses on six critical areas: child protection and psychosocial support for traumatised children, education continuity programmes, distribution of child-sensitive non-food items, food security assistance and provision of safe drinking water and WASH support. “Protection concerns are escalating in overcrowded shelters, where children are showing visible signs of psychological distress,” said ChildFund Sri Lanka Country Director Aditi Ghosh. 

“Our teams are working around the clock despite the breached reservoirs, cut-off communities and 24-hour telecommunication failures to reach the most vulnerable families.”

ChildFund Sri Lanka is actively participating in the national humanitarian response coordination, advocating for strengthened child-centred action alongside the UN agencies, INGOs and government partners. However, significant gaps in resources and access remain as the crisis continues to unfold.

The organisation is urgently seeking additional support to scale up the life-saving interventions for the affected children and families. Priority needs include expanded psychosocial support services, emergency education materials, hygiene kits designed for children, nutritional assistance and water purification systems for displaced communities.

Corporate partners, donors and individuals wishing to support ChildFund Sri Lanka’s flood response efforts can contact +94 770440203 for immediate assistance coordination.

Your support can make a life-saving difference at this critical moment.