As part of ongoing humanitarian assistance to communities affected by Cyclone Dethwa, the Agam Humanitarian Resource Centre (AHRC), in collaboration with UNOPS and the Vriddhi Network, continued its emergency relief response in the Trincomalee District by providing essential hygiene items to disaster-affected families in the Kuchchaveli and Verugal Divisional Secretariat areas.

The humanitarian intervention was made possible with the financial support of UK Aid and Australian Aid, and was implemented in coordination with the respective Divisional Secretariats. The assistance focused on meeting the immediate hygiene and sanitation needs of families whose lives and livelihoods were affected by the cyclone and related disasters.

Hygiene Assistance in Kuchchaveli – 18 March 2026

On 18 March 2026, AHRC distributed hygiene assistance to 150 families affected by Cyclone Dethwa in the Kuchchaveli area. Each beneficiary family received a package containing 16 different types of hygiene items, intended to support essential household hygiene and sanitation needs following the disaster.

The distribution was carried out with the approval, guidance and coordination of the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat. The programme was conducted under the leadership of the Assistant Divisional Secretary and Deputy Planning Directors, ensuring coordination with the relevant government authorities and facilitating the effective delivery of assistance to affected families.

The event was attended by representatives of AHRC, including Director Mr. K. Lavakusarasa, Deputy Director Mr. A. Mathan, Accountant Ms. K. Sanchalitha and other staff members. A representative from UNOPS, Ms. Niroshima, also participated in the event.

The assistance provided an important form of immediate humanitarian support to families recovering from the impacts of Cyclone Dethwa. By focusing specifically on hygiene needs, the intervention sought to help affected households maintain basic sanitary conditions during the recovery period.

Hygiene Assistance in Verugal – 21 March 2026

Following the Kuchchaveli distribution, the humanitarian response continued in the Verugal Divisional Secretariat area. On 20 March 2026, as reported in the AHRC post dated 21 March 2026, hygiene items were distributed to a further 150 families affected by Cyclone Dethwa.

Similar to the Kuchchaveli intervention, each family received 16 types of hygiene items. The distribution was implemented by AHRC with the collaboration of UNOPS and the Vriddhi Network, with financial support from UK Aid and Australian Aid.

The programme was carried out under the approval and guidance of the Verugal Divisional Secretariat. The effective coordination of the relief distribution was supported by the Verugal Divisional Secretary and the Secretariat officials, who assisted with the necessary arrangements to ensure that the humanitarian items were distributed appropriately among affected families.

AHRC expressed its appreciation to the Verugal Divisional Secretary and all officials who contributed to the organisation and facilitation of the programme.

Continued Humanitarian Response

The two interventions demonstrate AHRC's continued commitment to supporting communities affected by natural disasters and strengthening humanitarian assistance at the local level. Through collaboration with government authorities, UNOPS, the Vriddhi Network and international development partners, the organisation has been able to provide targeted assistance to families facing immediate challenges following Cyclone Dethwa.

The two distributions in Kuchchaveli and Verugal reached a combined total of 300 affected families, providing each household with 16 types of essential hygiene items. These interventions were designed to address immediate household needs and support affected communities during the post-disaster recovery process.

The broader programme also envisaged extending similar hygiene assistance to affected families in Muttur, with the overall intervention planned to reach 400 families across three Divisional Secretariat areas—Kuchchaveli, Muttur and Verugal.

AHRC acknowledges the valuable financial support provided by UK Aid and Australian Aid, as well as the collaboration of UNOPS and the Vriddhi Network. The organisation also extends its sincere appreciation to the officials of the Kuchchaveli and Verugal Divisional Secretariats for their guidance, coordination and practical support in ensuring the successful implementation of the humanitarian assistance.

Through such coordinated efforts, AHRC continues to contribute to community-level disaster response and recovery, particularly by addressing the immediate needs of families affected by severe weather events and other disasters in the Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka.

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