The United Nations and humanitarian partners on Thursday launched a humanitarian priorities plan for Sri Lanka in response to Cyclone Ditwa, appealing for $35,000,000 to scale up life-saving assistance.

Spokesperson Farhan said the plan aims to reach 658,000 of the most vulnerable people through April and follows a government request for international assistance. The storm, he said, caused extensive loss of life and damage: at its peak about 2,200,000 people were affected, more than 600 deaths have been recorded and nearly 200 people remain missing. More than 91,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, the spokesperson said.

Farhan said initial contributions from donors, together with a $4,500,000 allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund, are enabling rapid assistance but that significant gaps remain. He called on the international community to contribute to ensure life-saving assistance reaches those most in need.

Next steps: the UN and partners will prioritize rapid delivery of assistance under the humanitarian plan and continue to appeal to donors for the full $35 million target.