đź”— Share this article Cyclone Disaster in Sri Lanka Unleashes a Spirit of Volunteerism Watch: The nation's communities under water after devastating rains. Sri Lankan performer GK Reginold rides in a small craft through flooded neighborhoods, aiming to bring food and water to those in urgent circumstances. Some of the families, Mr Reginold says, have gone without help for days, isolated by the country's worst weather disaster in recent years. Cyclone Ditwah lashed the country last week, causing widespread destruction that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds unaccounted for and destroyed 20,000 homes. But the flooding has also inspired a surge in community help, as people face what the president has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in its history. "My primary motivation why I wanted to do this, is to at least ensure they get one meal," Mr Reginold states. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that." Volunteers have been using fishing boats out to rescue flood victims and distribute supplies. More than one million people have been affected by the disaster and a national emergency has been declared. The military has sent helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is arriving from foreign governments and aid groups. But it will be a lengthy process to rebuild for Sri Lanka, which has seen its share of difficulties in recent years. Community Organizers Volunteer at Local Food Hub In a Colombo suburb, activists who protested in 2022 are now helping run a makeshift kitchen that produces meals. The protests from three years ago were driven by a spiralling economic crisis that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration exploded and led to political change. Now, that civic energy is being channelled toward disaster response. "Some volunteers came after work, some rotated shifts and some even used vacation time to be there," one organizer explains. "We reactivated the group as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says. At a local kitchen in Wijerama, volunteers cook food for those displaced by water. The organizer also views the kitchen as an "continuation" of his community service in 2016, when torrential rain and floods killed hundreds across the country. Volunteers have compiled hundreds of requests for help, sent the information to authorities, and managed the distribution of food. "Every request we made, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he says. Digital Initiatives for Aid A flurry of activity is also happening online, where netizens have created a public database to direct donations and volunteers. Another volunteer-backed website helps supporters find relief camps and see what is in highest demand in those areas. Private companies have organized donation drives, while media outlets have started an campaign to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes. Facing criticism over the management of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all divisions" and "come together to restore the nation". Critics have claimed authorities of ignoring forecasts, which they say worsened the disaster's impact. Recently, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in parliament, arguing that the government was trying to restrict debate on the disaster. On the ground, however, there remains a sense of togetherness as people begin the cleanup after the floods. "In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else in a crisis makes that tiredness fade," the organizer wrote after working long hours at aid centers. "Crises are not new to us. But, the empathy and capacity of our hearts is larger than the damage that occurs during a disaster."