ISLAMABAD: A specialised team from the Pakistan Army, deployed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the directives of the Prime Minister, is actively providing relief in areas of Sri Lanka affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
According to the NDMA, all available measures are being taken to assist victims, including search operations for missing persons and the expedited recovery of bodies. Additional aid is being sent using vacant spaces on commercial flights.
The NDMA stated that additional relief supplies would be sent using available space on commercial flights. A relief team was earlier dispatched aboard a Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft to bolster ongoing rescue efforts. In line with the Prime Minister’s directive, 200 tons of relief goods have also been shipped aboard a naval vessel to support communities impacted by the disaster.
Pakistan Navy ships and helicopters are actively engaged in relief operations, extending aid to areas hardest hit. The NDMA reaffirmed its commitment to tackling natural calamities at home and abroad, stressing its determination to mitigate damage and reduce the impact of disasters.
The Authority assured that Pakistan would continue to provide all possible assistance to the disaster-stricken people of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is grappling with one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent years. Cyclone Ditwah has claimed over 400 lives, with hundreds more reported missing, and caused widespread flooding, landslides, and torrential rains, particularly in the eastern and central regions of the country.
The Disaster Management Centre reported that over 20,000 homes were destroyed, forcing roughly 108,000 people into temporary shelters. Rescue operations continue, with helicopters deployed to reach flood-stranded communities. Authorities have declared a state of emergency as nearly one-third of the country remains without electricity and access to clean water.
