WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund said Friday that its board has approved $206 million in emergency financing for Sri Lanka, to help in the country&#39;s recovery from the devastating Cyclone Ditwah.&nbsp;The natural disaster killed more than 640 people, and affected more than 10 percent of Sri Lanka&#39;s population. Floods and landslides caused by the cyclone left extensive damage throughout the South Asian island nation.&nbsp;&quot;The disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs,&quot; IMF deputy managing director Kenji Okamura said in a statement.&nbsp;The IMF&#39;s emergency aid -- which comes under the Washington-based lender&#39;s rapid financing instrument -- is meant to help address these pressures, he added.&nbsp;The announcement comes a day after Sri Lanka&#39;s government unveiled plans for $1.6 billion in additional spending next year to fund cyclone recovery.&nbsp;While it is still early for a firm assessment, the fund&#39;s mission chief for Sri Lanka, Evan Papageorgiou, flagged a likely hit to economic activity in the short-term.&nbsp;&quot;Agriculture and tourism are key sectors in Sri Lanka&#39;s growth and are being hit the hardest,&quot; he told reporters in a briefing.&nbsp;&quot;Inflation is likely to rise due to supply disruptions, and the current account deficit will likely widen over the next year,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The government had also secured a World Bank agreement to repurpose $120 million from an ongoing project for disaster recovery spending.&nbsp;Separately, it got a $200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to finance water management, the first such funding since the cyclone.&nbsp;The IMF said Friday that Sri Lankan authorities are still committed to their economic reform program aided by support of around $3 billion.&nbsp;A further tranche of this rescue package known as the Extended Fund Facility was coming up when the cyclone hit.&nbsp;The IMF said it has deferred the fifth review of the package, with a team set to visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions.&nbsp;It noted this deferment took place due to the time needed to assess the cyclone&#39;s economic impact and examine how an IMF-supported program can best support Sri Lanka&#39;s recovery and reconstruction efforts -- while preserving policy priorities

Asia

The IMF approved $206 million in emergency financing for Sri Lanka to aid recovery from Cyclone Ditwah, which killed over 640 people. The funds will address humanitarian needs, economic disruptions, and support ongoing reform programs.

IMF approves $206M aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan authorities issued fresh landslide warnings on Sunday with rains lashing areas already devastated by a powerful cyclone, as the death toll rose to 618.&nbsp;More than two million people, nearly 10% of the population, have been affected by last week&#39;s floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwa, the worst on the island this century.&nbsp;The Disaster Management Center (DMC) said monsoon storms were adding more rain and making hillsides unstable, including the central mountainous region and the north-western midlands.&nbsp;Helicopters and planes were being used on Sunday to supply communities cut off by landslides in the center of the country.&nbsp;The Sri Lanka Air Force said it had received a planeload of relief supplies from Myanmar on Sunday, the latest batch of foreign aid.&nbsp;The government has confirmed 618 dead, 464 from the lush tea-growing central region, while 209 people remain unaccounted for.&nbsp;The number of people in state-run refugee camps had dropped to 100,000 from a peak of 225,000 as floodwaters receded across the island by Sunday, the DMC said.&nbsp;More than 75,000 homes were damaged, including close to 5,000 that were completely destroyed, it added.&nbsp;The government on Friday unveiled a major compensation package to rebuild homes and revive businesses wiped out by the natural disaster, which hit the island as it was emerging from its 2022 economic meltdown.&nbsp;A senior official earlier said recovery and reconstruction might cost up to $7 billion.&nbsp;The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday it was considering Sri Lanka&rsquo;s request for an additional $200 million to help with rebuilding.&nbsp;The money is on top of the $347 million tranche due later this month, part of a four-year, $2.9 billion IMF bailout loan agreed in 2023.&nbsp;President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament on Friday that Sri Lanka&rsquo;s economy had made a significant recovery, but was not strong enough to withstand the latest shock alone.&nbsp;Survivors will be offered up to 10 million rupees ($33,000) to buy land in a safer location and build a new house, the finance ministry said in a statement late on Friday.&nbsp;One million rupees is being offered in compensation for each person killed or left permanently disabled.&nbsp;The government did not say how much the package would cost, raising concerns given the country&#39;s recent economic turbulence.&nbsp;The central bank has ordered commercial lenders, both state-owned and private, to reschedule loans.

The Disaster Management Center (DMC) says monsoon storms were adding more rain and making hillsides unstable, including the central mountainous region and the north-western midlands.

Sri Lanka issues landslide warnings as cyclone toll hits 618

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday expressed solidarity with Sri Lanka and offered assistance as the neighboring country appealed for international help after Cyclone Ditwah left more than 193 people dead, while 228 people were missing. Sri Lanka has reported widespread destruction, with heavy rains and floods damaging nearly 15,000 homes and forcing around 44,000 people into temporary state-run shelters, according to AFP, quoting the Disaster Management Center. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences over the loss of lives, saying Pakistan stood by the people of Sri Lanka &ldquo;in this hour of grief&rdquo; and was ready to extend any support needed for rescue, recovery, and relief efforts.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1994657570359783827&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=180a925cf3244c5d05b18b603e738d0ff057a0cf&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;We stand ready to extend any support in rescue, recovery and relief efforts as a symbol of our solidarity with our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters,&rdquo; the prime minister said on X (formerly Twitter). Thousands of personnel from the army, navy, and air force have been deployed as the country faces severe flooding, landslides, and major communication disruptions. Although the cyclone began moving away on Saturday and was heading towards India, it had already caused heavy damage across central and eastern Sri Lanka. Several remote areas remain inaccessible after landslides cut off key roads and damaged fibre optic lines. The prime minister&#39;s offer comes after Sri Lanka issued a global appeal for aid and urged its overseas community to donate in support of nearly half a million affected people. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya also briefed Colombo-based diplomats to seek assistance from their governments.

Foreign Affairs

Sri Lanka has reported widespread destruction, with heavy rains and floods damaging nearly 15,000 homes and forcing around 44,000 people into temporary state-run shelters, according to the Disaster Management Center.

Pakistan extends support as Sri Lanka’s cyclone death toll rises to 193

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a major humanitarian relief operation for the flood-affected people of Sri Lanka at the prime minister&#39;s special directives.&nbsp;The National Disaster Management Authority, working closely with the Pakistan Armed Forces, has completed arrangements for an immediate aid mission. The effort follows the devastating floods that have caused widespread destruction across Sri Lanka.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 394px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1994845947176861880&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=e523e4423abc97e2499e28c4f66e0e17a7c2d13a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The first relief consignment will leave for Colombo on Nov. 30 aboard a Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft. It contains 100 tons of essential supplies and will be accompanied by a 45-member Urban Search and Rescue team from the Pakistan Army.&nbsp;Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik will supervise the dispatch of the mission. A departure ceremony will be held at Nur Khan Airbase, attended by officials from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NDMA, and representatives of the diplomatic community.&nbsp;The relief package includes rescue boats, dewatering pumps, life jackets, tents, blankets, quilts, bubble mats, mosquito nets, infant formula, dry rations, and essential medicines. A mobile field hospital is also being sent to support emergency medical needs in the affected areas.&nbsp;Pakistan has reaffirmed its solidarity with Sri Lanka and said it will continue to extend humanitarian support in the days ahead.

The authority says with the help of Pakistan Armed Forces, it has completed arrangements for an immediate aid mission.

Articles tagged with "Cyclone Ditwah"

IMF approves $206M aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah

Sri Lanka issues landslide warnings as cyclone toll hits 618

Pakistan extends support as Sri Lanka’s cyclone death toll rises to 193

Pakistan prepares 100-ton aid shipment for Sri Lanka flood victims