On 30 November 2025, Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka, causing heavy flooding, landslides, and devastating losses, impacting more than 1,5 million people. According to reports, around 474 were dead, 356 missing, and 201,875 displaced in 1,385 shelters. The situation was grave enough for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to declare a state of emergency across the island. These floods were significantly more severe than the May 2017 floods in Sri Lanka. In 2017, natural disasters such as floods and landslides occurred across South Asia in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. This year, Sri Lanka’s immediate neighbours, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, provided relief and humanitarian assistance to flood-affected victims in Sri Lanka, demonstrating South Asian solidarity in an unforgettable moment of south-south cooperation. This commentary highlights South Asian cooperation efforts in the face of climate-driven disasters that frequently affect the region. The article also looks at relief aid efforts by state and non-state actors and Sri Lanka’s recovery plan with forward-looking considerations for enhanced cooperation.
South Asia relief aid
Sri Lanka’s immediate neighbour has been of immense support to Sri Lanka’s disaster response, facing floods through the Indian National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). Aligned with India’s foreign policy that is neighbourhood first, India’s military capability in humanitarian and disaster relief operations was demonstrated as IAF C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft carrying a Para Field Hospital with ambulances, trauma care units and operation theatres landed in Colombo from Agra. It transported 73 medical support personnel and 8250 kg of essential supplies to flood victims. Via sea cargo, Pakistan sent an aid package of 200 tons of critical supplies to Sri Lanka, while a C-130 aircraft delivered 6.5 tons of equipment and a 47-member search-and-rescue team for relief operations. A C-130 aircraft from Bangladesh also delivered mosquito nets, food, tents, essential medicines, and other items to flood victims. Neighbouring Nepal sent USD 200,000 in financial aid to Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts.
International relief aid
Despite USAID’s global withdrawal, the US has demonstrated that it continues to support Sri Lanka during times of crisis by pledging $2 million to assist flood-affected victims. European powers such as the United Kingdom promised £675,000, while the European Union mobilised €200,000 to support the Red Cross’s disaster relief operations in Sri Lanka. Australia, a formidable ally in times of crisis, has provided $3.5 million to support recovery efforts. The Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Force of United Arab Emirates deployed IL-76TD cargo aircraft and a C-17 cargo aircraft carrying vehicles, rescue boats, rescue dogs, specialised equipment and essential supplies along with 53 highly trained search and rescue operation specialists for emergency response. Non-state actors, such as specialised United Nations agencies, have also provided support, including US$175,000 from the World Health Organisation to bolster health sector responses. In contrast, UNICEF supports access to clean water for families affected by floods. The support of these organisations is crucial to preventing waterborne infectious diseases and providing health and sanitation services.
Sri Lanka’s recovery plan and forward-looking considerations
As issued on December 2nd, Extraordinary Gazette No. 2465/08 has identified 22 districts affected by floods. Moving forward, there are many lessons to be learned from such climate-induced disasters, such as enhancing early warning systems and sharing climate data across South Asia to build resilience and prevent loss of life. As highlighted by coastal engineering expert Ravindra Jayaratna in an article published in The Conversation, hydrological modelling and compound flood science are crucial factors for government agencies such as the Disaster Management Centre, Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, along with Sri Lanka’s Meteorology Department. Reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation to mobilise a South Asian Climate Resilience Fund for nature-induced disasters could bolster disaster risk reduction capabilities and serve as a confidence-building measure among feuding South Asian states such as India and Pakistan.
Post by Natasha Fernando
