🚨 Sri Lanka Mobilizes Youth Network for Early Disaster Preparedness

To shift focus from crisis relief to early disaster preparedness, over 100 Sri Lankan youth leaders participated in a national simulation exercise, The Resilience Lab: Local Youth Action in Crisis Response, held in Maharagama to mark International Youth Day. Organized by the UNFPA, National Youth Services Council (NYSC), and Youth Affairs Ministry, the program aimed to empower young leaders as first responders and active communicators before emergencies strike. National Context & Capacity: • According to 2024 Census data, Sri Lanka’s youth population (aged 15–29) stands at ~4.78 million (approx. 22% of total population). • The government holds a widespread network of around 14,000 Youth Clubs under NYSC, reaching over 280,000 young people nationwide. • Focus is on community-level mobilization, early warnings, and inclusive response targeting vulnerable groups (elderly, disabled, pregnant women). Crisis Impact & Key Priorities: • Highlights lessons learned from recent events like Cyclone Ditwah, which affected 2.2 million people, caused over 600 deaths, and damaged nearly 115,000 homes. • Integrates critical social aspects into emergency scenarios, including sexual and reproductive health, gender considerations, and protection. • Executed with technical support from the Disaster Management Centre, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, and Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka.