By Zahid Karani
KARACHI: Sri Lanka issued an urgent appeal for international assistance after Cyclone Ditwah swept across the island, unleashing devastating floods and landslides that claimed at least 159 lives, with more than 200 people reported missing. The cyclone left tens of thousands displaced and affected over 833,000 people, or roughly 230,000 families, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency to coordinate relief efforts more effectively.
Sanjeewa Pattiwila, Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Karachi, called on the global community to support emergency operations, stressing the critical need for both financial contributions and essential material aid. The Sri Lankan government established official accounts to receive donations in US dollars and Sri Lankan rupees, while also advising that aid providers would benefit from rapid customs clearance, although transport costs would not be covered by the state.
Officials outlined a range of immediate needs, including life jackets, rescue ropes, submersible water pumps, mobile toilets, and boats to assist stranded communities. Agricultural recovery emerged as a particularly pressing concern, with approximately 510,000 hectares of paddy land devastated and in urgent need of fertilizers and restoration of irrigation systems to prevent a wider food crisis.
The Consulate General in Karachi designated Coordinating Officers to manage relief operations and liaise with donors, ensuring that aid reached the hardest-hit areas swiftly. Authorities highlighted the scale of the disaster as unprecedented, warning that full assessments could take weeks, and emphasized the urgency of international solidarity to prevent further suffering among affected communities.
