Safety concerns mount for females in evacuation centres after Ditwah

 Conditions in evacuation centres set up following Cyclone Ditwah have raised serious safety concerns, as overcrowding and the lack of privacy increase the risk of violence against vulnerable groups, particularly adolescent girls, elderly women, and women with disabilities, humanitarian agencies point out.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the breakdown of normal protection systems during disasters has left women and girls facing heightened vulnerabilities.

Disrupted access to health services, limited protection mechanisms, and prolonged displacement have further compounded the risks.

The UNFPA further highlighted the urgent need to strengthen safety measures within evacuation centres while ensuring access to essential services.

The agency estimates that more than half a million women of reproductive age have been affected by the disaster, including over 22,500 pregnant women, many of whom face difficulties accessing timely medical care.

In light of the situation, the UNFPA has begun distributing maternity and dignity kits and is working with authorities to improve protection, health, and psychosocial support services in affected areas.

However, the agency has warned that funding shortages threaten to limit the scale of the response.

With only a fraction of required funds currently available, UNFPA has called on the international community to act swiftly to prevent further harm and ensure the safety and dignity of women and girls displaced by Cyclone Ditwah.

In response, a senior Health Ministry official told Daily Mirror that special attention has already been given to women and children affected by the calamity, and that the Ministry, in partnership with other agencies, is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that no woman is left behind.

The cyclone struck Sri Lanka on November 28, causing severe floods and landslides across all 25 districts and affecting more than two million people. Hundreds of thousands were forced to leave their homes and take shelter in temporary centres, many of which lack enough space, proper lighting, and security.