The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Headquarters in Rome issued an appeal calling for international assistance of USD 16.5 million to support the early recovery of livelihoods and food security for farming, livestock-keeping and fishing communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, FAO said yesterday.

Cyclone Ditwah represents one of the most severe climate shocks the country has faced in decades, affecting all 25 districts and disrupting the lives and livelihoods of more than 2.2 million people. Over 1.1 million people are now in urgent need of food security, agricultural and nutrition assistance, at a time when vulnerabilities were already heightened by prolonged economic pressures.

The cyclone struck at the onset of the critical Maha 2025/26 cultivation season, causing widespread damage to agriculture, livestock and fisheries. Floods inundated more than 129 000 hectares of agricultural land, affecting over 227 000 farming households. Standing water, debris, siltation and damaged irrigation systems are delaying replanting, while shortages of seeds, fertilizers and access to machinery threaten to result in irreversible production losses if immediate support is not provided.

Livestock and fisheries losses have further compounded the crisis. More than 37 000 cattle and buffaloes, nearly 16 000 goats and sheep, and 475 000 poultry have been lost, while damage to fisheries and aquaculture is estimated at USD 66–69 million, undermining both food availability and household incomes.

“This appeal focuses on early recovery interventions that are urgently needed to stabilize livelihoods and safeguard food production.,” said Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. “While the overall requirements for the agrifood sector to fully rebound are substantially higher, immediate early recovery support is critical to prevent long-term losses, deeper food insecurity and increased reliance on food assistance.”

Issued by FAO Headquarters in Rome, the appeal targets 256 000 households (approximately 1.03 million people) across the Central, Eastern, North Central, North Western, Northern, Uva and Western Provinces. The USD 16.5 million requirement reflects priority early recovery actions, designed to rapidly restore productive capacity and protect livelihoods.

FAO’s planned interventions include:

Restoring crop production by providing seeds, fertilizers and essential agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers;

Safeguarding livestock assets through emergency animal health services, vaccines, veterinary kits and poultry restocking;

Supporting fisheries and aquaculture livelihoods through the repair or replacement of damaged boats and fishing gear; and

Providing cash-based assistance, including cash-for-work, to meet immediate needs, support livelihood restoration and enable debris clearance where markets are functioning.

FAO is working closely with the Government of Sri Lanka, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources. FAO also co-leads the Food Security and Livelihoods Sector alongside the World Food Programme and coordinates its response with the Sri Lanka Humanitarian Priorities Plan – Cyclone Ditwah.

To date, USD 400 000 has been received, leaving a 97.6 percent funding gap. Without urgent donor support, hundreds of thousands of households risk missing an entire cultivation season, with lasting consequences for food security, nutrition and rural resilience.