COLOMBO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 275,000 children are among the 1.4 million people affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, UNICEF said in a statement on Tuesday.
UNICEF said they are deeply concerned about the destruction the cyclone has caused to children and the vital services they depend on.
Emma Brigham, UNICEF representative in Sri Lanka, said children urgently need help and that it is a race against time to reach the most vulnerable families.
Widespread damage to infrastructure and essential services has forced thousands into temporary shelters, increasing the risks of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and severe emotional distress among children, UNICEF said.
According to a 2025 World Bank report, poverty in Sri Lanka has more than doubled since 2019, rising from 11.3 percent to 24.5 percent.
UNICEF said it is working with the government and partners to assess needs and deliver urgent assistance. The agency is scaling up support and appealing for additional funding to provide clean water, nutrition supplies, psychosocial care, and emergency education kits for displaced children and mothers.
Over 400 Sri Lankans have been killed by landslides and floods caused by the cyclone. ■
