Volunteer spirit awakened by cyclone catastrophe in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold navigates a motorised fishing boat through the outskirts of Colombo, delivering essential food and water to families in urgent need. According to Mr. Reginold, some households have gone days without aid, isolated by the countrys most severe weather catastrophe in years.

Last week, Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka, triggering massive floods and landslides that claimed over 400 lives, left hundreds missing, and destroyed roughly 20,000 homes. Amid the devastation, the crisis has sparked a surge of volunteer efforts across the nation as citizens respond to what President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has described as the "most difficult natural disaster" in Sri Lankan history.

"My goal was simply to provide at least one meal for those affected," Mr. Reginold told the BBC. "I felt immense satisfaction being able to do that."

Volunteers have been using fishing boats to reach flood victims and distribute aid. Over one million people have been impacted by the disaster, and the president has declared a state of emergency. The military has deployed helicopters for rescue missions, while international and local humanitarian organizations have started sending relief supplies.

In Colombos Wijerama area, activists who once protested against former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 are now running a community kitchen that provides meals to those affected. The protests three years ago were sparked by an escalating economic crisis, which led to shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, ultimately ousting Rajapaksa. Today, those same civic-minded individuals are redirecting their activism to cyclone relief efforts.

"Some volunteers came after work, some rotated shifts, and others even took leave to help," said Sasindu Sahan Tharaka, a social media activist, to the BBC. "We reactivated our group immediately after learning what had happened last Thursday."

At the Wijerama community kitchen, volunteers work tirelessly to prepare meals for flood victims. Mr. Sahan also views the kitchen as an extension of his volunteer activities dating back to 2016, when heavy rains and floods killed 250 people nationwide.

Volunteers have compiled hundreds of aid requests, submitted them to authorities, and coordinated the distribution of food. "Whatever support we requested, the community provided abundantly," Mr. Sahan stated. Online platforms have also emerged, guiding donations, volunteers, and information about relief camps and local needs.

Private companies have launched donation drives, while local TV stations focus on supplying food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes. Facing criticism over preparedness for Cyclone Ditwah, President Dissanayake has called on citizens to "set aside political differences" and unite to rebuild the country. Opposition lawmakers argue that authorities ignored warnings, worsening the disaster's effects, and staged a walkout in parliament claiming the ruling party sought to restrict debate.

Despite political tensions, a spirit of solidarity persists on the ground as Sri Lankans work to recover from the floods. "Ultimately, the satisfaction of helping save lives makes all the exhaustion worthwhile," Mr. Sahan wrote on Facebook, after long hours at the Wijerama kitchen and other relief efforts. "Disasters are not new to us, but our empathy and resilience exceed the destruction that these events bring."

Author: Sophia Brooks