🔗 Share this article

Sri Lankan performer GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through flooded neighborhoods, aiming to bring essential supplies 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 most severe natural catastrophe in memory.

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 leveled 20,000 homes.

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

"The main reason for getting involved, is to at least help them to have one meal," Mr Reginold states. "And I was deeply gratified that I was able to do that."

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

The armed forces has sent helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is arriving from international partners and aid groups.

But it will be a long journey to recovery for the nation, which has seen its share of difficulties in recent years.

Activists Pitch In at Community Kitchen

In a Colombo suburb, activists who protested in 2022 are now operating a community kitchen that churns out food aid.

The protests from three years ago were fuelled by a spiralling economic crisis that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger exploded and led to a leadership shift. Now, that political activism is being channelled toward disaster response.

"People came after work, some rotated shifts 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 "continuation" of his volunteer work in 2016, when torrential rain and floods affected hundreds across the country.

The team have gathered hundreds of requests for help, shared them to authorities, and managed the delivery of food.

"Whatever we asked for, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he notes.

Digital Campaigns for Support

A flurry of activity is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a shared list to direct donations and volunteers.

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

Private companies have organized donation drives, while local television channels have started an campaign to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

Facing criticism over the handling of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all divisions" and "come together to rebuild the nation".

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

Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, arguing that the government was trying to limit debate on the disaster.

On the ground, however, there remains a sense of unity as people begin the cleanup after the floods.

"In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else to save lives makes that tiredness fade," one volunteer wrote after working long hours at relief sites.

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