Cyclone Ditwah released an onslaught of damages and catastrophic flooding. This human-made tragedy has resulted in a devastating death toll that has surpassed 800 in several Asian countries. Sri Lanka has confirmed 212 deaths with a further 218 people still missing as recovery efforts are ongoing. At least 17,000 are sheltering in emergency shelters, waiting for the floodwaters to recede across their neighborhoods and homes. Our emergency response teams are racing against the clock to reach families isolated by the unprecedented flooding. This specialized force comprises over 24,000 personnel from the police, army, and air force.
Unprecedented conditions of record rain began lashing Sri Lanka last Thursday, causing destructive landslides and flooding large portions of the island. The country’s commercial capital, Colombo, quickly became one of the most affected areas, with floodwaters leaving more than 20,000 families stuck in their homes. Over in Indonesia, it’s pretty dire. Hundreds more are in pain, with 435 fatalities from the flooding and 402 people missing in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh.
Sri Lanka’s Struggle Against Cyclone Ditwah
Sri Lanka is going through extraordinarily difficult times as it continues to deal with the damages left by Tropical Cyclone Ditwah. Beyond the loss of life, the cyclone has displaced over 70,000 residents. According to media reports, more than 17,000 people are still living in shelters as they wait for the floodwaters to go down. Almost all of these people have lost everything as the catastrophic floods that inundated the state destroyed lives and livelihoods.
Helping coordinate search and rescue efforts, the Sri Lankan air force has increased their aerial response. They’re presently deploying 15 helicopters to evacuate over 120,000 people from life threatening situations. What’s most striking isn’t just the landscape after such a disaster—the scale of the disaster is striking. More than 24,000 personnel are mobilized to get families trapped by the floodwaters. In recent years floods have hit Colombo hard, cutting off entire communities and leaving families stuck in their houses.
“My sister and I were trapped on the upper floor of our home with our four children for two days,” – Sunethra Priyadarshani
Yet the emotional toll on residents is no less profound as they continue to face the destruction left behind by the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. The Administration has heard a great deal of concern about the lag time in getting help.
Indonesia’s Devastating Floods
In Indonesia, the picture has become even more dire. As of Wednesday, widespread flooding has already taken the lives of at least 435 people. These floods have affected many provinces including North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces. In total, 402 people are unaccounted for, and thousands more have fled their homes. Almost 3,000 homes have been damaged, including 827 that were fully destroyed or swept away by raging waters.
The Indonesian government has clearly and decisively mobilized the great powers of its own national government’s resources to reach and help affected areas. Emergency workers are striving to deliver essential supplies and support to those impacted by the floods. The enormous scale of destruction across multiple countries has exacerbated the risk of food insecurity and hampered access to essential goods among local populations impacted by the devastation.
“The looting happened before logistical aid arrived,” – Ferry Walintukan
Residents in these communities described an overwhelming fear that they would starve before the help arrived. Most could not even tell you when or how help would clearly arrive, increasing their distress in an already nerve-wracking pandemic landscape.
Regional Impact and Response
These disastrous climate-fueled typhoons and floods that resulted from rising sea levels have not just hit Sri Lanka and Indonesia, but other countries surrounding them. Thailand has declared 170 flood-related deaths, and Malaysia has recorded three deaths related to the recent torrential weather. The impact of a perfect storm of extreme weather patterns that have recently hit Asia has been truly devastating. More than 800 lives have been lost in our countries alone.
Responses from governments and humanitarian organizations are ramping up as they strive to provide aid and relief to those affected by these natural disasters. Emergency personnel are in the midst of a large-scale ongoing search and rescue operation. They are getting the more than 18,000 displaced people accurate aid, including shelter, food and medical care.
