UN Launches US$35 Million Relief Plan For Sri Lanka

(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette) The United Nations has unveiled a US$35 million Humanitarian Priorities Plan to support Sri Lanka in delivering immediate relief and restoring normalcy for communities devastated by Cyclone Ditwah. The plan will roll out over the next four months, UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche announced at a media briefing in Colombo on December 11.

Franche said the initiative, developed with the Disaster Management Centre, focuses on seven key sectors to address urgent needs. While the Sri Lankan government leads recovery efforts, the UN and its local and international partners will provide crucial support.

So far, US$9.5 million has been pledged by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with an additional US$26 million being sought to fund short-term relief and long-term recovery.

Thousands of families remain displaced, with homes and infrastructure heavily damaged. The funds will enable rapid delivery of emergency food, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services, particularly in areas affected by floods and landslides.

“Communities continue to face severe challenges, and the full scale of the disaster is only now becoming clear,” Franche said.“This funding comes at a critical moment to expand life-saving assistance to the hardest-hit areas and help people rebuild their lives.”

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