The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued an appeal for $16.5 million aimed at supporting the recovery of livelihoods and enhancing food security for farming, livestock, and fishing communities impacted by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.
“This appeal focuses on early recovery interventions that are urgently needed to stabilize livelihoods and safeguard food production,” stated Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. “While the overall requirements for the agrifood sector to fully rebound are substantially higher, immediate early recovery support is critical to prevent long-term losses, deeper food insecurity, and increased reliance on food assistance.”
The appeal is directed towards assisting 256,000 households, which translates to approximately 1.03 million individuals, across Sri Lanka’s Central, Eastern, North Central, North Western, Northern, Uva, and Western Provinces.
According to the FAO, without urgent donor support, hundreds of thousands of households are at risk of missing an entire cultivation season, which would have significant repercussions on food security, nutrition, and rural resilience.
(Colombo/Jan16/2026)
