Emergency Food Relief for Ilanththalir Women’s Society in Valaithottam After Flooding in Verugal, Trincomalee District

Severe flooding following Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread hardship across parts of the Trincomalee District, with communities in the Verugal area among the hardest hit. In Valaithottam Village, located under the Eachchilampattu Divisional Secretariat, women-led households faced sudden disruption to their livelihoods and access to daily food supplies.

To support 75 families who were most affected, Vanni Hope, with sponsorship from Gandhi Illam (New Zealand), provided emergency dry-food assistance to members of the Ilanththalir Women’s Society, helping families navigate a difficult recovery period.

Background

Women from the Ilanththalir Women’s Society rely on several livelihood activities to support their families, including:

• Home gardening
• Small-scale farming
• Sea-related work such as fishing and related activities

The severe flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah resulted in major disruptions to these income sources:

• Home gardens were damaged or submerged
• Farming activities were halted due to waterlogged land
• Rough sea conditions made fishing unsafe and impossible
• Access to daily food supplies became extremely limited

These challenges placed significant strain on women-led households, creating an urgent need for immediate food assistance.

Objectives of the Intervention

The dry-food relief intervention was carried out to:

• Provide essential food support to families affected by flooding
• Ease the burden on women whose livelihoods were disrupted
• Stabilise household food security during the recovery period
• Strengthen resilience among vulnerable families within the community

Dry-Food Distribution Summary

• Activity: Distribution of dry-food packs
• Total Packs Distributed: 75
• Beneficiary Group: Ilanththalir Women’s Society
• Location: Valaithottam Village, Eachchilampattu Division, Trincomalee District
• Sponsor: Gandhi Illam (New Zealand)
• Implementing Agency: Vanni Hope

The dry-food packs were distributed directly to women and families who experienced severe income loss and food insecurity due to the floods.

Impact and Community Response

The intervention had a meaningful and immediate impact on the community. Women expressed deep gratitude for the timely support, sharing that:

• The food packs provided immediate relief to families struggling to meet daily food needs
• Assistance helped women cope with the shock of losing income from gardening, farming and fishing
• The support brought comfort, stability and hope during a challenging period
• Community resilience and solidarity were strengthened as families worked toward recovery

Conclusion

The dry-food distribution in Valaithottam, carried out by Vanni Hope and sponsored by Gandhi Illam (NZ), successfully addressed urgent food insecurity caused by flooding and livelihood disruption in the Verugal area. This intervention contributed significantly to the wellbeing and recovery of the Ilanththalir Women’s Society, helping families regain stability as they rebuild their livelihoods.

Vanni Hope remains committed to standing with vulnerable communities across Sri Lanka as part of our ongoing Cyclone Ditwah emergency response.

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