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Local and international organisations step into help Ditwah-affected children
View(s):By Sajeniya Sathanandan
UN agencies, international organisations and local groups have focused their attention on welfare of children in the aftermath of Cyclone ‘Ditwah’.
Despite challenges on funding and other limitations, organisations have drawn programmes covering children’s education, security, mental health and welfare among other needs.
Chief of Communications of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bismarck Swangin told the Sunday Times that despite facing significant fundraising challenges, organisations have successfully coordinated with one another to ensure that no affected child is overlooked and to avoid duplicating government support.
He said that in order to address the immediate nutrition crisis caused by the disaster, UNICEF transitioned from providing direct food in safety centres to a four-month food voucher system. This allows families who have returned home but lost their livelihoods to purchase essentials at supermarkets.
The plan prioritises getting children back to school quickly. This is supported by the distribution of learning materials, including backpacks and stationery, specifically for primary school children.
Also, child rights officers guided safety centres and communities to provide mental health and psychosocial support through activities like play, drawing, and positive parenting guidance in rural tea estate plantations.
A spokesperson of the World Food Programme (WFP) told the Sunday Times that they mainly prioritised food security and nutrition for the most vulnerable populations, including women, children, and people with disabilities. To ensure an efficient response without overlapping services, the WFP focuses on children aged five and above.
Since November 29, 2025, they have been on the ground where 67 metric tons of fortified food or biscuits, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, were provided to over 260,000 people including families with children in the areas of Badulla, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Mannar. This biscuit, found to be a nutritional boost, was distributed among emergency safety centres.
As a next step, WFP has decided to provide complementary food voucher assistance from next month for nutritionally vulnerable families. Vouchers will be provided to families who can purchase nutritional fresh food items like vegetables, fruits and green leaves. This voucher is specific to avoid parents trying to buy alcohol, tobacco, or non-nutritious snacks.
Currently, the WFP, together with the government, is also assessing the damage of school meal caterers who were supported under the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) programme which directly supports the national school meal programme. While less than 10% of caterers were directly impacted in the area WFP is working on, those who suffered particularly in the poultry sector are now receiving complementary support to what they have received previously depending on their damage and needs. Usually an assistance package includes all infrastructure for poultry and agriculture farming which includes seeds, fencing, and veterinary services to restart their livelihoods. To manage current food shortages and market price spikes, government regulations are temporarily allowing caterers to substitute eggs and fish with vegetarian proteins like lentils or soy.
The WFP HGSF programme is carried out in eight districts, including Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Monaragala, and Batticaloa. In these areas, the programme relies on strong community support; if a primary caterer is unable to work, other parents are ready to step in immediately to ensure students are fed. While operations are currently paused in parts of Puttalam and certain estate sectors where schools are being used as emergency shelters, the programme is prepared to restart as soon as the Ministry of Education reopens these buildings.
To ensure long-term stability, the WFP is working with the relevant ministries to provide caterers, most of whom are local mothers, with professional training in business and crop management. This training helps them better manage their harvests and handle changes in food prices. Additionally, the WFP, with the government, is offering support needed for caterers to rebuild their home gardens and poultry farms following the recent floods.
On the other hand, spokesperson of Save the Children Ms. Menaca Calyaneratne said that they partnered with Sarvodaya and cleaned the West Ward Tamil School in Nuwara Eliya. The community and parents volunteered to clean the school which benefits 94 boys, 112 girls, and 16 teachers.
Hygiene kits were distributed after the disaster. Additionally, they coordinated with Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) to conduct hygiene awareness sessions in safe centres, which is particularly vital in crowded communal living spaces. These group activities also serve as a screening tool, allowing trained staff to identify children who may require specialised clinical support from psychiatrists or hospitals.
To address the trauma and anxiety caused by the disaster, the organisation has established child-friendly spaces. In partnership with the Centre for Children’s Happiness, they utilise TeamUp, a series of evidence-based movement and play activities designed to help children reduce stress, deal with emotions, and build resilience.
Acting Clinical Psychologist of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Ms. Piyangika Rathnayaka told the Sunday Times that district psychosocial officers were trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA) to assist children in affected areas, including Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and other places as well. Also, child-friendly spaces have been established where children could engage in different activities to prevent the development of mental disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
105 children required specific care plans, among them 14 children lost both parents, the others having lost one parent or a guardian. The assessment aimed to identify children who lost one or both parents or their guardians, and to monitor differences in their emotional and behavioural patterns.
The NCPA is collaborating with the Legal Aid Commission to obtain court orders for permanent guardianship or to find a fit person for children without parents. Most of these children are currently living with relatives while officers ensure their safety, education, and health.
Teachers have been provided with guidelines and instructed to welcome children warmly and avoid treating them differently if they lack uniforms or educational materials lost in the disaster. The guidelines aim to help teachers identify psychological issues that might arise in the school environment.
These organisations have struggled to get accurate information on who is affected because of major communication problems and transport issues that block access to many areas. Many vulnerable people have lost everything they own, including the documents they need to prove who they are or what they’ve lost. On top of this, there is the issue of people not being honest about whether they have already received help, often because they are desperate and afraid they won’t get enough to survive.
Other reasons for these problems include the fact that people are constantly moving around to find safety, making it hard to keep track of everyone. There are often language barriers or a lack of trust in outsiders, which makes people hesitant to give out their details.
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