An MSF emergency team is in Sri Lanka now actively assessing needs following the widespread flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The Government of Sri Lanka has declared a nationwide state of emergency, confirming that all districts in the country have been severely affected.

In Colombo, MSF is working together with locally led organisations to distribute hygiene kits to evacuated people in four emergency shelters around the capital. We have already donated 500 non-food item kits, and will donate 250 maternity kits and 400 dignity kits.

In Badulla, one of the most severely affected areas, a 7-person team specializing in health care, logistics, and water and sanitation is on the ground to identify longer term needs in rural areas.

Our teams are also preparing for the arrival of 1,000 winterised family tents and 1,000 items of plastic sheeting.

Disasters like these can affect continuity of care as well as people’s access to essential medicines for non-communicable and other diseases. Mental health care is a concern for MSF and it is also critical that people can access clean water to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases.