Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the president of Sri Lanka, expressed gratitude to the United States for providing immediate emergency relief of USD 2 million and deploying a C-130 to support humanitarian efforts during Cyclone Ditwah.
"My deepest gratitude to the US and President @realDonaldTrump for standing with us yet again at a time of need," he wrote in a post on X.
The quick C-130 deployments and prompt $2 million emergency aid demonstrate the strength of our long-lasting collaboration, which is based on strong linkages between our people and common democratic ideals."
In a statement issued on Monday, the US Indo-Pacific Command stated "At the request of the government of Sri Lanka, the U.S. military is working alongside the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre and Sri Lankan Armed Forces to provide foreign disaster relief to communities impacted by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused severe flooding, widespread displacement and tragic loss of life."
The US military sent a variety of personnel, aircraft, and logistical support capabilities to help with life-saving and life-sustaining humanitarian operations, according to the Indo-Pacific command, which also stated that it is closely collaborating with the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Center, Sri Lankan Armed Forces, and the US Department of State.
According to the Daily Mirror, which cited the nation's Disaster Management Center (DMC), the dead toll has risen to 627 and several hundred individuals are still unaccounted for.
Cyclone Ditwah has caused unrelenting rain, flash floods, and landslides throughout the island, raising river levels to all-time highs, flooding entire towns, and destroying vital infrastructure.
As rescue and search operations continue, 190 people are still unaccounted for, according to Daily Mirror. Additionally, 2,179,138 individuals from 611,530 families have been impacted by the unfavorable weather in all 25 districts.
