Humanitarian Assistance Extended to Communities Affected by Cyclone Ditwah and Floods
In response to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah and subsequent flooding, the Aham Humanitarian Resource Centre (AHRC) continued its humanitarian assistance programmes across the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka, focusing particularly on conflict-affected and economically vulnerable communities.
As part of these ongoing relief efforts, dry ration and nutritional support were provided to affected families and vulnerable groups in Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mannar districts. These interventions were designed to address the immediate food and nutritional needs of communities whose livelihoods and household resources had been severely affected by the disaster.
Dry Ration Assistance to 170 Families in the Eastern Province
On 13 February 2026, AHRC facilitated the distribution of essential dry ration items to 170 beneficiaries from conflict-affected communities in Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa districts. These communities had experienced significant livelihood losses as a result of Cyclone Ditwah and the subsequent floods.
The assistance was provided with the objective of helping affected families meet their immediate food and household needs during the recovery period. The distribution formed part of AHRC's broader humanitarian response to communities facing heightened vulnerability following the disaster.
AHRC expressed its appreciation to its partner organizations, including the Batticaloa District Aruvi Women’s Network (BDAWN) and the People’s Collective for Climate Justice (PCCJ), whose support contributed to the implementation of the humanitarian response. Appreciation was also extended to the government officials who assisted in facilitating the distribution and ensuring that assistance reached affected communities.
Nutritional Support for 90 Pregnant Women in Batticaloa
On 19 February 2026, AHRC, together with the Batticaloa District Aruvi Women’s Network (BDAWN), implemented a targeted nutritional assistance programme for pregnant women from families affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Batticaloa District.
Under this programme, 90 pregnant women from Vakarai, Chenkalady and Vellavely areas received nutritional support packages. The intervention specifically focused on the nutritional needs of pregnant women living in families affected by the disaster, recognizing the importance of supporting vulnerable groups during periods of humanitarian crisis.
The programme aimed to contribute to addressing the health and nutritional needs of affected families while providing targeted assistance to pregnant women who faced additional vulnerabilities following the cyclone and flooding.
AHRC and BDAWN expressed their sincere appreciation to the Regional Medical Officers of Health and relevant health authorities who supported the implementation of this humanitarian initiative.
Humanitarian Assistance to 90 Vulnerable Families in the Northern Province
On 20 February 2026, AHRC extended its humanitarian response to the Northern Province, providing dry ration assistance to 90 low-income families from conflict-affected communities in Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mannar districts.
The beneficiaries were families living below the poverty line and experiencing heightened economic vulnerability following the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah and other disasters. The provision of essential food items was intended to help these households meet their immediate needs and reduce the additional burden created by the loss of livelihoods and household resources.
AHRC has continued providing dry ration and nutritional assistance to disaster-affected communities across the Northern and Eastern Provinces, reflecting its commitment to supporting communities that remain particularly vulnerable due to the combined effects of conflict, poverty, livelihood insecurity and natural disasters.
The Northern Province intervention was implemented with the cooperation of war-affected community-based organizations, civil society representatives, friends and community partners. AHRC expressed its appreciation to all those who contributed to facilitating the humanitarian assistance and reaching vulnerable families.
Strengthening Community-Based Humanitarian Response
These interventions demonstrate AHRC's continued commitment to providing community-focused humanitarian assistance during periods of disaster and crisis. Rather than limiting support to general relief distribution, the interventions also sought to respond to the specific needs of vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, low-income families and conflict-affected communities.
Across the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the assistance reached communities facing multiple and overlapping vulnerabilities. The collaboration with local partner organizations, health authorities, government officials, civil society actors and community representatives also strengthened the ability to identify affected populations and deliver assistance according to their immediate needs.
Through these combined efforts, AHRC continued to stand alongside communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and flooding, supporting their immediate food and nutritional needs while contributing to their ongoing recovery and resilience.
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