ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has dispatched 200 tons of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which has caused widespread devastation in the South Asian country, claiming the lives of more than 400 people.
The aid aims to support communities affected by the catastrophic floods and assist in ongoing relief efforts.
Acting on the special directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and with the support of Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has organised a sea cargo shipment carrying 200 tons of essential relief supplies for Sri Lanka, a press release issued by the NDMA said on Tuesday.
The consignment includes tents, blankets, quilts, life jackets, rescue boats, de-watering pumps, rechargeable lamps, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, infant dry milk, ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), and essential medicines to address urgent needs related to shelter, nutrition, health, and safety.
Humanitarian partners, including the Al Khidmat Foundation, also contributed to the relief effort.
A send-off ceremony was held in Islamabad to mark the departure of the shipment. The event was attended by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Pakistan, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne.
Speaking at the occasion, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani praised NDMA’s rapid response and efficient mobilisation of critical relief supplies, noting that the Authority’s swift and coordinated actions in the face of logistical challenges underscore Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to humanitarian values and regional solidarity.
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Rear Admiral Fred Senevirathne (Rtd), expressed profound gratitude to the Government of Pakistan, stating that the people of Sri Lanka are deeply moved by Pakistan’s timely and resolute assistance during this hour of need.
He added that this gesture reflects the enduring friendship and mutual support that characterise bilateral relations between the two countries.
India delays life-saving Pakistani aid
Originally planned to fly, the aid mission was rerouted via sea after India refused overflight clearance, causing an unavoidable delay.
Despite this challenge, NDMA swiftly mobilised resources to ensure the aid’s timely departure. The consignment is now en route and is expected to reach Sri Lanka within eight days.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said a special Pakistan Air Force relief aircraft had been stranded for over 60 hours, awaiting India’s flight clearance to cross its airspace.
“India continues to block humanitarian assistance from Pakistan to Sri Lanka,” Andrabi said, adding that New Delhi had issued a partial and impractical clearance window after 48 hours — valid only for a few hours and without permission for the return flight.
“The partial flight clearance issued by India last night, after 48 hours, was operationally impractical: time-bound for just a few hours and without validity for the return flight,” Andrabi said.
He said the delay had severely hindered Pakistan’s urgent relief mission for the “brotherly people of Sri Lanka,” where President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a nationwide state of emergency, calling the disaster “the most challenging natural calamity in our history.”
Worst disaster since 2004 Tsunami
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said the official death toll had climbed to 410, while 336 people remain missing after a week of relentless monsoon rains.
More than 1.5 million people have been affected across the island nation, marking the worst devastation since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.
Officials in several central districts warned that casualties could rise further as rescue teams continue to dig through deep mud and collapsed slopes in remote, landslide-hit areas.
Capital flooded, residents caught off-guard
In Colombo, flood levels started receding on Tuesday, but residents said they had never witnessed such rapid inundation.
Landslide warnings remain in place across the central highlands, the hardest-hit region.
India and Pakistan have kept their airspaces closed to each other’s aircraft since April, after tensions spiked following a militant attack in India’s illegally occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people and triggered a four-day border conflict.
