Cyclone Ditwah swept through communities, destroying homes, farmland and essential infrastructure. Its impact continues to interrupt daily life, even though the storm has passed. Among the most urgent concerns is the question of food security. People have stepped forward to assist those displaced, offering cooked meals, dry rations and basic necessities. These efforts reflect solidarity and compassion that deserve genuine appreciation. Their labour, resources and goodwill have carried families through the most difficult days.
The absence of coordination, however, has created problems that no one intended. Some groups arrive at a shelter only to discover that residents have already received several meals earlier that day. Meanwhile, other locations with equal need are overlooked. Without a system that directs donations and delivery points, food that could save lives may end up spoiled or unused. Since communication networks are now back in operation, authorities can no longer rely on guesswork. Clear instructions, updated lists of needs and designated distribution zones should be used to guide both state agencies and private volunteers.
Food safety demands immediate attention as well. Crowded shelters, limited facilities and unpredictable conditions increase the risk of contamination. Improper handling, unsafe ingredients and lack of hygiene can trigger illness among people already weakened by stress and exposure. Protecting health must become the foundation of any relief strategy. Volunteers and staff responsible for cooking and transporting food should be consistently informed about safety requirements, storage methods and sanitary practices. Disaster victims deserve safety along with compassion.
This emergency coincides with a festive period. Families across the country are preparing as best they can for Christmas, the 31st night and the New Year. Even in hardship, people celebrate to preserve normalcy and hope. Seasonal demand cannot be ignored. Authorities must know exactly what supplies remain in local markets, what stocks are limited and what products must be imported. Floods destroyed many cultivations, and continued rain may damage what is left. If decisions regarding imports are delayed, prices will rise sharply and families will bear the burden.
The President’s instructions to compensate farmers quickly is an important step, but compensation alone cannot restore cultivations. Damaged land, destroyed irrigation systems and waterlogged soil require time and expertise. Farmers cannot return to their fields without a structured recovery plan. Agricultural stakeholders should guide this process through consultation rather than react only when crisis deepens. Consumer rights groups have suggested that cultivation begin in areas that escaped damage. That recommendation must turn into action backed by seeds, tools, technical support and financial access.
Another critical announcement concerns settlements in high-risk zones. The Government has ruled that people who lived in highly hazardous areas will not be allowed to return. This policy protects lives, but it also means many families will remain in temporary shelters indefinitely. Their long-term food and nutrition needs must be managed systematically. A specialised task force should take responsibility for overseeing supply chains, monitoring nutrition standards and addressing health risks linked to mass feeding arrangements.
Although many crops were destroyed, the country still has remaining produce in fields and storage. These crops must be salvaged without delay through proper harvesting, transportation and protection from spoilage. Attention should also turn to water conditions. Measures taken to control floods, such as blocking tanks and diverting water, could lead to shortages for cultivation in the coming months. Water management must shift from emergency defence to agricultural planning.
Where planting can continue, farmers should receive inputs without queues, shortages or uncertainty. Subsidies must be timely. Equipment, machinery and high-quality seeds can be provided through partnerships with the private sector. Support from international agencies such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Food Programme will be valuable, especially for emergency planning, research, and nutrition standards. Local agricultural institutes that specialise in rice, vegetables, fruits and other crops should be involved immediately.
The road ahead requires discipline and foresight rather than goodwill alone. Relief work must protect both current survival and the next harvest. If the country treats food security as a coordinated national effort, it can emerge from Cyclone Ditwah not just repaired, but stronger.