• INGOs express concern about congestion in some camps, especially in Badulla

As of yesterday (28 February), 3,146 individuals from 1,075 families remain in 32 official ‘safety centres’ following Cyclone Ditwah.

However, the overwhelming majority of those displaced, nearly 150,000 people, are currently staying with relatives, friends, or in alternative locations outside formal camps, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

In total, 220,044 individuals from 64,901 families were affected islandwide by Cyclone Ditwah. Kegalle District alone accounts for more than 36,000 individuals currently residing with relatives or in such alternative arrangements.

Housing destruction remains extensive. According to the DMC, 5,933 houses were fully destroyed by Ditwah, while 115,501 houses sustained partial damage. 

Despite Rs. 12,788 million being allocated to district secretaries across all 25 districts for compensation relating to fully damaged houses, only Rs. 357.58 million has been disbursed to date, underscoring a significant disparity between allocated funds and actual payments.

Land Commissioner General Chandana Ranaweera Arachchi, speaking at a media briefing last week, acknowledged that resettlement challenges persisted in landslide-affected areas.

He said that land was being sourced from State lands, donated lands, Land Reform Commission (LRC) lands, and estate lands. Suitable land has been identified in almost all districts, although delays remain in securing sufficient land in Badulla. 

Once potential sites are identified, they are inspected by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) and released only after confirmation that they are safe for resettlement. Approximately 90% of the land identification process has been completed.

The DMC has confirmed 680 deaths and 154 persons reported missing due to Cyclone Ditwah. Kandy District recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 254 deaths and 52 persons still missing. 

Badulla reported 90 deaths and nine missing, while Nuwara Eliya recorded 82 deaths and 31 missing. Kurunegala reported 64 deaths and 11 missing, Kegalle 41 deaths and 37 missing, and Matale 31 deaths and seven missing.

Data released by the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) as of 17 February indicates that compensation payments remain incomplete across multiple categories. 

Of the 676 reported deaths at the time of assessment, 668 were deemed eligible for compensation. Full payments have been completed for 323 beneficiaries, while 221 families have received advance payments. However, 345 families are still awaiting full compensation. The total amount disbursed for loss-of-life compensation and advances stands at Rs. 354.55 million.

In relation to fully destroyed houses, 6,079 beneficiaries have been identified as eligible, yet only 210 payments have been made so far. District-level disbursements include 95 payments in Anuradhapura, 71 in Kandy, 38 in Monaragala, four in Kurunegala, and two in Ratnapura.

For partially damaged houses, 118,838 beneficiaries have been identified as eligible, but payments have been made to only 3,095 individuals. Although Rs. 28,713 million was allocated for partial housing damage, only Rs. 478.30 million has been disbursed.

Under the Rs. 25,000 house-cleaning allowance, 434,058 beneficiaries qualified for assistance. Payments have been completed for 426,963 individuals, representing 98.37% coverage, while 7,095 remain unpaid. 

Under the Rs. 50,000 housing rehabilitation allowance, 172,665 beneficiaries were identified as eligible. Of these, 144,377 have received payments, leaving 28,288 pending. Official data indicate that Rs. 7,218.85 million, amounting to 83.63% of allocated funds, has been disbursed under this category.

A total of 211,398 schoolchildren qualified for the Rs. 15,000 education allowance, with 159,271 payments completed and 52,127 still pending. Meanwhile, of the 1,257 beneficiaries identified for livelihood assistance, only 180 have received payments.

Meanwhile, a Safety Centre Needs Assessment Report released this month by the Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Sector, co-led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) highlighted growing concerns in the Badulla District, which hosts 56% of the total displaced population.

The report noted that living conditions at the centres were a primary concern, with sanitation facilities severely overstretched. An average of 23 persons are sharing a single toilet, exceeding internationally accepted safety standards. According to the assessment, pregnant and lactating mothers represent the most significant vulnerable group among the displaced, being present in 64% of all open safety centres.

Attempts to contact NDRSC Director Namal Liyanage for further clarification were unsuccessful.