Fragile Recovery in Nuwara Eliya Post-Cyclone Ditwah 📉

An IOM assessment reveals that while 98% of the nearly 69,000 people displaced by the November 2025 cyclone have returned, the recovery remains precarious due to high environmental risks and economic gaps. • Displacement Status: As of March 2026, 1,798 individuals remain displaced. However, a significant 60,000 people are living in "red zones" prone to landslides, technically classified as displaced due to high risk. • Infrastructure & Services: While electricity is fully restored, 77% of roads and bridges remain only partially functional. Access to safe water and sanitation is still uneven in Nuwara Eliya, Norwood, and Kothmale East. • Livelihood Impact: Only 43% of income-generating activities have fully resumed. The plantation communities face the toughest recovery due to insecure land tenure and high dependence on estate-based labor. • Key Sector Needs: Housing & Relocation: 97% of affected households require financial assistance or planned relocation support. Agriculture & ICT: There is an urgent demand for livelihood inputs (seeds, tools) and better access to landslide risk information and ICT-backed early warning systems. • Barriers to Recovery: Psychological trauma and social tensions affect 97% of respondents, compounded by a lack of financial resources (63%) and limited employment opportunities.