Cyclone Catastrophe in Sri Lanka Awakens a Wave of Community Action

Local performer GK Reginold navigates a small craft through flooded neighborhoods, aiming to bring food and water to those in desperate need.

Some of the families, he explains, have gone without help for days, isolated by the South Asian island nation's worst weather disaster in recent years.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, bringing catastrophic floods and landslides that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and destroyed 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also sparked a rise in community help, as people face what the president has described as the "gravest natural disaster" in its history.

"My primary motivation why I wanted to do this, is to at least ensure they get one meal," he shares. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that."

More than one million people have been impacted by the disaster and a national emergency has been declared.

The armed forces has deployed helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from international partners and aid groups.

But it will be a long journey to rebuild for Sri Lanka, which has seen its share of difficulties in recent years.

Activists Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that produces food aid.

The demonstrations from three years ago were driven by a spiralling economic crisis that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration erupted and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being channelled toward disaster response.

"Some volunteers came after work, some took turns and some even used vacation time to be there," a social media activist explains.

"We reactivated the group as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says.

The organizer also considers the kitchen as an "extension" of his community service in 2016, when torrential rain and floods affected hundreds across the country.

Volunteers have compiled hundreds of requests for help, sent the information to authorities, and organized the delivery of food.

"Every request we made, we got more than enough in response from the community," he notes.

Digital Campaigns for Support

A flurry of activity is also happening online, where netizens have created a public database to channel resources and volunteers.

Another volunteer-backed website helps supporters find shelters and identify what is most needed in those areas.

Private companies have launched fundraising efforts, while local television channels have initiated an effort to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes.

Facing criticism over the management of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all political differences" and "come together to rebuild the nation".

Critics have claimed authorities of ignoring weather warnings, which they say worsened the disaster's effects.

Recently, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in parliament, arguing that the ruling party was trying to limit debate on the disaster.

In affected communities, however, there remains a feeling of unity as people pick up the pieces after the floods.

"Ultimately, the satisfaction of helping someone else in a crisis makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after working long hours at aid centers.

"Crises are not new to us. But, the compassion and capacity of our hearts is larger than the destruction that occurs during a disaster."