ASIA/SRI LANKA – State of emergency due to Cyclone Ditwah: Catholic churches open to displaced people and committed to providing aid

Colombo – “The country is under water, and the situation is serious even in the cities. The entire nation has been hit by torrential rains and flooding. We are seeing much suffering and people who have lost everything. For this reason, the entire Catholic Church has joined the national relief and reception efforts,” Father Basil Rohan Fernando, a priest from Colombo and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Sri Lanka, told Fides about the situation in the country, which was struck by Cyclone Ditwah. The cyclone hit the region on November 27 and in the following days, causing landslides in the central highlands and flooding major cities.
The government declared a state of emergency following the torrential rains, which led to dam breaches and widespread landslides. The death toll has exceeded 330, and more than 200 people are missing, making this one of the worst natural disasters in recent years. According to the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Centre, approximately 20,000 houses were damaged, and over 100,000 people, including internally displaced persons, sought refuge in emergency shelters set up by the civil defense. A third of the country was without electricity and running water.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the disaster as “one of the worst in the country’s history” and fears that the cost of reconstruction will be extremely high.
One of the hardest-hit areas is the eastern region, where floodwaters breached the Mavil Aru dam. Significant damage has also been reported in Colombo and other areas crucial to the local economy.
More than 24,000 police officers and soldiers are involved in the rescue efforts, but despite all efforts, aid has not yet reached all affected areas.
In this phase, says Father Fernando, “national unity is crucial: all the country’s healthy forces and people of goodwill are working together to alleviate the suffering of the victims,” he reports. “Religious communities are also contributing and have shown solidarity: churches, parishes, and Catholic institutions are already housing displaced people, who have found refuge, acceptance, and comfort there,” the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies continues. “Caritas has activated its network at all levels, volunteers are working tirelessly in the dioceses and parishes, and the Catholic communities have made all their resources and skills available to help the displaced, of course without distinction of ethnicity or faith,” he affirms.
Christian communities of all denominations are providing humanitarian aid and are involved in emergency relief for the victims of the disaster by providing shelter, food, water, and hygiene supplies. “Supporting the displaced,” the priest said, “is also psychological and spiritual. A gesture of love, affection, and closeness means a great deal in such situations; listening and human warmth are a testament to God’s love for every person.”

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