United Nations launched a Humanitarian Priorities Plan

A Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP) was launched by the United Nations today to support vulnerable people affected by Cyclone Ditwah.  

This plan was launched in response to a formal request from the Government of Sri Lanka for multi-sectoral international assistance.

This emergency support is designed to be life-saving for a short duration of 4 months to ensure people remain healthy and are able to transition to medium-to-long-term recovery.

Through this plan, 658,000 vulnerable people are expected to be supported between December 2025 and April 2026.

UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche said an estimate of US$ 35.3 million is targeted to be collected in the next four months from local and international partners to increase life-saving assistance among affected vulnerable communities. From their own resources $9.5 million have been received.

Continuous support has been received by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

 “This funding comes at a critical moment for Sri Lanka," Mr. Franche said, addressing the media today at the UN compound. 

The life-saving assistance will be provided in education; food security, agriculture and nutrition; health; protection; shelter, non-food items and camp coordination; water, sanitation and hygiene; and early recovery.

Aid is based on a needs assessment published by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The UN works closely and in coordination with the government, local authorities like the Grama Niladhari, and civil society organisations to ensure the aid reaches the people most in need.

Mr Franche said the world is currently not very well prepared for the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.