The health impacts of tropical cyclones depend on the number of people living in low-lying coastal areas in the storm’s direct path, the built environment including building design, and whether there is sufficient time for warning and evacuation. Tropical cyclones, may directly and indirectly affect health in many ways, for example by: increasing cases of drowning and other physical trauma ... When Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka in late 2025, it left behind a trail of disruption that tested the resilience of communities and the national health system.

Understanding the Context

In the hours and days that followed, the World Health Organization (WHO) stepped in to support the Ministry of Health with coordinated action, technical expertise and critical supplies that helped stabilize essential services ... WHO’s work in the acute phase of Cyclone Ditwah: Looking ahead to build ... Purpose, scope and users of this Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation 1. Purpose and scope: This Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation (IAHE) provides an independent assessment of the collective humanitarian response to communities impacted by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique.

Key Insights

The IAHE primary focused on the scale-up activation period during 22 March through 30 June 2019. The terms of reference (TOR ... The combined impact of increased cyclone intensity, rising sea levels and increased heavy rainfalls can be devastating for PICs, in which most of the population live in coastal areas vulnerable to sea level rise, storm surges and flooding. Start of the cyclone season in the South Pacific: Tips on how to prepare Tropical cyclone Gita In early February 2018, Tropical Cyclone Gita, a Category 4 storm with winds of more than 275 kilometres per hour, ravaged the Pacific. As the country most affected by the cyclone, Tonga was the focus of WHO's support.

Final Thoughts

From 12 to 13 February, the storm ravaged the main island of Tongatapu and nearby 'Eua. Sri Lanka is experiencing torrential rainfall, severe flooding and landslides as the northeast monsoon intensifies, worsened by the impact of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah which made landfall on the island’s eastern coast early morning on 28 November 2025. Cyclone Ditwah has resulted in a devastating nationwide emergency in Sri Lanka, affecting more than 1.4 million people from over 407,594 families ...