🔗 Share this article Cyclone Disaster in Sri Lanka Unleashes a Wave of Volunteerism See: Sri Lankan communities submerged after devastating rains. Sri Lankan performer GK Reginold navigates a small craft through flooded neighborhoods, aiming to deliver essential supplies to those in desperate need. Many families, he explains, have not received aid for days, isolated by the South Asian island nation's worst weather disaster in recent years. The powerful storm struck the country last week, bringing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, with hundreds unaccounted for and leveled 20,000 homes. But the flooding has also inspired a surge in community help, as people face what national leaders has described as the "gravest natural disaster" in its history. "The main reason why I wanted to do this, is to at least ensure they get one meal," he shares. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that." Volunteers have been using small vessels out to evacuate people and deliver aid. More than one million people have been impacted by the disaster and a national emergency has been declared. The armed forces has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from foreign governments and aid groups. But it will be a long journey to recovery for Sri Lanka, which has seen its share of turmoil in recent years. Activists Pitch In at Community Kitchen In a Colombo suburb, activists who protested in 2022 are now operating a makeshift kitchen that produces meals. The protests from three years ago were fuelled by a severe economic downturn that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger exploded and led to political change. Now, that political activism is being channelled toward cyclone relief. "People came after work, some rotated shifts and some even took leave to be there," one organizer states. "We mobilized our network as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says. At a community 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 affected hundreds across the country. The team have compiled hundreds of calls for assistance, sent the information to authorities, and organized the delivery 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 shared list to channel resources and helpers. Another volunteer-backed website helps donors find relief camps and see what is in highest demand in those areas. Local businesses have organized donation drives, while media outlets have started an effort to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes. Facing criticism over the handling of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "set aside all divisions" and "come together to restore the nation". Opposition politicians have accused authorities of disregarding forecasts, which they say exacerbated the disaster's impact. Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, arguing that the government was trying to limit debate on the disaster. In affected communities, however, there remains a sense of togetherness as people pick up the pieces after the floods. "In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else to save lives 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 greater than the damage that occurs during a disaster."