In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, severe floods and mudslides have devastated communities across Sri Lanka. In response, MAG has launched an emergency digital campaign to help keep people safe from explosive items that may have been displaced by the floodwaters.
Flooding dramatically reshapes the landscape, with serious implications for the visibility and stability of explosive ordnance. Items can become exposed, reburied, or swept into previously safe areas, including roads, farmland, playgrounds, or even homes.
The movement and saturation of the ground can also make these items more unstable and more likely to detonate. Corrosion can affect fuses, internal components can weaken, and debris such as logs, tyres, and household items can easily hide dangerous munitions, making them extremely difficult to spot.
To address these risks, MAG has launched urgent safety messaging in both Tamil and Sinhala, delivered via Facebook to communities in the affected areas. The campaign alerts people to the increased dangers, outlines safe behaviours, and shares information on how and where to seek assistance.
According to current figures, close to one million people across all 25 districts have been directly affected by the severe flooding. Tragically, 474 deaths have been reported, with 356 people still missing. As search and rescue efforts continue, more than 180,000 people from over 51,000 families are now sheltering in more than 1,000 government-run safety centres.
MAG has been working in Sri Lanka since 2002, finding and destroying landmines and unexploded bombs left behind from nearly three decades of civil war, as well as teaching people how to identify, avoid and report explosive items through in-person risk education sessions. While operations are suspended, MAG’s digital tools allow life-saving messaging to be rapidly disseminated to the areas where the need is greatest.
As Sri Lanka begins its wider recovery, we are doing everything possible to reduce the risk of injury from explosive items and help keep communities safe.
Learn more about our work in Sri Lanka here.
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