🔗 Share this article Cyclone Disaster in the Island Nation Awakens a Wave of Community Action Watch: Sri Lankan communities submerged after devastating flooding. Local actor and musician GK Reginold rides in a small craft through flooded neighborhoods, hoping to bring essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances. Many families, Mr Reginold says, have gone without help for days, isolated by the country's most severe natural catastrophe in memory. Cyclone Ditwah lashed the country last week, causing catastrophic floods and landslides that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, with hundreds unaccounted for and destroyed 20,000 homes. But the deluge has also inspired a rise in community help, as citizens face what the president has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in its history. "The main reason for getting involved, is to at least help them to have one meal," he shares. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that." Volunteers have been taking fishing boats out to evacuate people and deliver aid. More than one million people have been affected by the disaster and a state of emergency has been announced. The armed forces has sent helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is flowing in from foreign governments and aid groups. But it will be a long journey to recovery for Sri Lanka, which has seen its share of turmoil in recent years. Community Organizers Volunteer at Local Food Hub In a Colombo suburb, individuals who demonstrated in 2022 are now operating a community kitchen that produces meals. The demonstrations from three years ago were driven by a spiralling economic crisis that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger erupted and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being channelled toward cyclone relief. "Some volunteers came after work, some took turns and some even used vacation time to be there," a social media activist states. "We mobilized our network as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says. At a local kitchen in Wijerama, helpers cook food for those displaced by water. The organizer also views the kitchen as an "continuation" of his volunteer work in 2016, when heavy rains and floods affected hundreds across the country. The team have compiled hundreds of requests for help, sent the information to authorities, and managed the delivery of food. "Every request we made, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he says. Online Campaigns for Aid A wave of coordination is also happening online, where netizens have created a public database to channel resources and volunteers. Another volunteer-backed website helps supporters find shelters and see what is most needed in those areas. Local businesses have launched fundraising efforts, while media outlets have started an campaign to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes. Facing criticism over the handling of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all political differences" and "unite to rebuild the nation". Opposition politicians have claimed authorities of ignoring weather warnings, which they say worsened the disaster's effects. Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, claiming that the government was trying to restrict debate on the disaster. In affected communities, however, there remains a feeling of togetherness as people pick up the pieces after the floods. "In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else to save lives makes that tiredness fade," one volunteer wrote after working long hours at aid centers. "Disasters are not new to us. But, the compassion and size of our hearts is greater than the destruction that occurs during a disaster."