South East Asia has recently endured one of the most severe natural disasters in its modern history, with three powerful cyclones making landfall within days of each other. This unprecedented event has prompted many to compare its devastation to the 2004 Tsunami, which tragically impacted tens of thousands of the region’s most vulnerable people. The combined effect of these cyclones has resulted in numerous deaths, extensive flooding, flash floods, and catastrophic landslides across large parts of the region. It is important to note that these recent disasters have compounded the effects of several earlier cyclones, storms, and floods that have also struck within the past few months.

Impact in Sri Lanka:

• Over 334+ deaths and nearly 400+ people still missing (these numbers are increasing day by day)
• More than 1.3 million people are affected nationwide
• 108,000+ individuals displaced, currently housed in government-run safety shelters
• 20,000+ homes destroyed, 200+ roads impassable, severe rail and power network damage
• Major disruption to the tea and tourism industries, deepening the economic crisis

Regional Destruction Across South East Asia

According to BBC correspondents, similar levels of destruction have been observed in neighbouring countries. In Indonesia, the toll from cyclone Senyar and tropical cyclone Koto (which impacted the Philippines) has been especially devastating. Around 1,200 people have lost their lives in the past week due to flooding and landslides, and nearly 500 person’s remain missing. Thousands of others have suffered injuries. In Thailand, the official death toll has climbed to at least 176 people at the time of printing.

A resident from one of Indonesia’s most severely affected areas expressed the scale of the disaster, recounting,

“According to my grandmother, this is the worst, the worst in her life.”

 The provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra have been particularly hard hit, leaving thousands of people isolated and without access to essential supplies.

Maysanti, a resident of Central Tapanuli in North Sumatra—one of the hardest-hit regions—shared her distress with the BBC, explaining that aid workers were struggling to reach her district. She said,

“Everything is gone; our food supplies are running out. We can’t eat. Even instant noodles are being fought over now. Our food is gone; we need food and rice. Access to us is completely cut off”.

Urgent Recovery and Humanitarian Needs

The loss of agricultural land and livelihoods is expected to threaten food security for months, if not years. This crisis will have a particularly severe impact on smallholder farmers, plantation workers, and those living in informal settlements. The restoration of critical infrastructure—including roads, bridges, power, and water supply—is an urgent priority, as recovery in agriculture, local markets, and essential services will be slow without these foundations. Thousands of people who were already vulnerable before the disaster will need substantial support to rebuild their lives.

How You Can Help:

Christian World Service (CWS) works with trusted partners throughout the affected region including our global network of the ACT Alliance. We also recognise that many of our supporters have personal connections to these devastated areas and will wish to offer their financial assistance and prayers. As we call upon our supporters to respond with donations, CWS will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. For now, we urge you to donate to help the thousands of South East Asia’s most vulnerable citizens whose lives have been disproportionately affected by this succession of once-in-a-lifetime cyclones.

Thank you.