Since mid-November, overlapping tropical storms and enhanced monsoon patterns have led to severe flooding and landslides in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. United Nations teams throughout the region are aiding government-led emergency initiatives by providing food, healthcare, water, sanitation support, medical assistance, and early recovery evaluations, as the heavy rainfall persists and concerns mount regarding a potential escalation of the crisis. “We are vigilantly monitoring the situation and maintaining close communication with national authorities,” stated UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during a press briefing in New York on Thursday. “The UN is prepared to support any ongoing efforts.”
Experts attribute the disasters to the unusual intersection of potent weather systems, including Cyclones Ditwah and Senyar, coupled with a reinforced northeast monsoon. Elevated ocean temperatures and altered storm paths have resulted in extreme precipitation in areas that traditionally experience lower cyclone occurrences. Nearly 11 million individuals across the region have been affected, with around 1.2 million displaced from their homes into shelters, while roads, utilities, and agricultural land have been severely damaged.
Sri Lanka has experienced some of the most significant impacts following the landfall of Cyclone Ditwah on November 28, which resulted in widespread floods and landslides throughout almost the entire island. The highest casualties were reported in the hill districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Badulla, where landslides devastated plantation communities. Severe flooding also impacted western and northwestern districts, including the outer suburbs of Colombo, disrupting markets, transportation, and water supplies. Over 275,000 children are estimated to be affected by the crisis.
In Indonesia, continuous rainfall from November 22 to 25 caused lethal floods and landslides in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra, affecting numerous districts. Official reports indicate more than 830 fatalities, with at least 500 individuals still unaccounted for, and over 880,000 people displaced. In total, more than three million individuals have been impacted by floodwaters, landslides, and infrastructural damage. Entire villages have been submerged, bridges swept away, and roads severed, isolating communities and hampering rescue operations. Emergency teams are utilizing helicopters and boats to deliver aid to inaccessible areas. “We are collaborating closely with the government on water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), logistics, and coordination with local partners,” Dujarric added.
As the situation unfolds in Thailand and Malaysia, severe monsoon rains have struck southern Thailand, affecting 12 provinces. At least 185 individuals have lost their lives, with 367 reported missing and over four million people affected. More than 219,000 residents have been displaced as rivers overflowed and low-lying coastal regions were inundated. In neighboring Malaysia, flooding across eight northern and central states has led to the displacement of approximately 37,000 individuals. Authorities continue to issue evacuation orders and weather alerts as the rains persist.
Vietnam is grappling with the cumulative impact of one of its most severe typhoon seasons in recent years. Since October, a series of storms has flooded and damaged extensive areas, particularly in northern and central provinces. Ongoing rain since mid-November, exacerbated by Tropical Cyclone Koto, has triggered additional landslides and extended displacement. A national joint response plan is being implemented to address food insecurity, health hazards, and infrastructure damage. To assist with the response, $2.6 million has been allocated from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
UN agencies have indicated that these storms signify a broader trend towards increasingly severe and unpredictable weather patterns across the Asia-Pacific region. Cyclone Ditwah tracked unusually far south along Sri Lanka’s coastline, while Cyclone Senyar developed near the equator in the Strait of Malacca—a rare event. The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in a recent report, cautioned that rising temperatures are fundamentally altering the risk landscape of the region. Warmer ocean waters are elevating the likelihood of extreme rainfall, while rapid urbanization, deforestation, and the loss of wetlands are intensifying flood consequences. In some areas, even where early warnings were issued, rapidly rising waters overwhelmed evacuation routes.
