by United Nations office in Sri Lanka, January 23, 2026
UN Cyclone_Ditwah__SitRep #6 Jan 23 2026
Path of Cyclone Ditwah
Cyclone Ditwah has triggered the most extensive flooding and landslide damage in the past two decades in Sri Lanka, impacting approximately 2.2 million people across all 25 districts of the country. According to the Disaster Management Center, the cyclone had, as of 29 December 2025, resulted in 646 fatalities and left 173 people missing.
More than 170,000 people remain displaced or are staying with host families, indicating long-term displacement patterns. A total of 96 Safety Centres are currently operational, half the number reported previously, accommodating 7,109 individuals. This represents a reduction from peak figures of 233,000 people across 990 safety centers. The closure of Safety Centres hosted in schools has continued to raise concerns, as at times they appear to take place without the provision of adequate alternative shelter solutions for affected populations.
Housing damage remains extensive, with nearly 6,000 houses fully destroyed and over 108,000 houses partially damaged. In response, temporary camps have been observed in the Badulla, Kegalle, and Nuwara Eliya districts, while reports also indicate the emergence of informal and scattered displacement sites.
At the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Humanitarian Country Team launched the Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP) on 11 December 2025 to support 658,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by cyclone Ditwah between December 2025 and April 2026.