Around 374,000 workers in Sri Lanka have been affected by Cyclone Ditwah, according to a research conducted by the International Labour Organization.

This represents US$ 48 million in potential earnings lost per month if these workers are unable to work or find quality employment elsewhere, the ILO estimates.

A new brief by the ILO detailed the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall in Sri Lanka on November 26, bringing catastrophic rains and causing landslides in large parts of the country.

Most severe flooding took place in the Northern and Eastern districts, with landslides particularly affected central areas, where many tea plantations are located.

The brief combined remote sensing data on flood extent, population, agriculture and nightlight with labour force survey data to provide a preliminary snapshot of the situation in the affected area. This innovative approach provides timely insights into the potential impact on livelihoods and aims to guide both the emergency response and medium-term support to help workers regain a foothold in the labour market, the International Labour Organization noted.

The ILO said agriculture and fisheries sectors were severely hit. Up to 23 per cent of rice-cultivating land has been affected by the floods, and a preliminary estimate of output losses in the tea industry could be as high as 35 per cent. Considering these disastrous conditions, the ILO brief calls for immediate measures to support the restoration of livelihoods.

Emergency cash assistance and the widespread rollout of employment-intensive recovery activities that ensure decent working conditions should be prioritized in the short -term, combined with specific sectoral support and assistance to MSMEs to swiftly restore means of production, the ILO said. Such programmes must prioritize the most vulnerable, be conflict-sensitive, work through workers’ and employers’ organization, and interact directly with community stakeholders.

Medium-term recovery efforts should integrate lessons from this event to improve coverage, adequacy and coordination between wage protection, social protection, employment policies, and disaster risk management frameworks, the International Labour Organization added.