Emergency Food Relief for Women and Families in Kadatkaraichchenai

Cyclone Ditwah brought widespread flooding to communities across the Trincomalee District, with the village of Kadatkaraichchenai in the Mutur Division among the hardest hit. Women-led households in particular faced immediate hardship as their main sources of income were disrupted overnight.

To support those most affected, Vanni Hope, in partnership with Empower Projects, provided essential dry-food packs to members of the Puthumai Pannai Women’s Society. This intervention helped stabilise food security and ease the pressure on families during a difficult recovery period.

Background

The women of the Puthumai Pannai Society are engaged in several livelihood activities including:

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

However, the severe flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah resulted in:

• Submerged and damaged home gardens
• Halted farming activity due to waterlogged land
• Unsafe sea conditions, making fishing activities impossible
• Limited access to daily food supplies and essential goods

With most income streams disrupted, women-led households were placed under immense strain, creating an urgent need for emergency food support.

Purpose of the Intervention

The food relief distribution was carried out with the following objectives:

• Provide immediate dry-food assistance to families affected by the flooding
• Reduce pressure on women whose livelihoods were disrupted
• Stabilise household food security during the recovery period
• Strengthen resilience among vulnerable families

Dry-Food Distribution Summary

• Activity: Distribution of dry-food packs
• Beneficiary Group: Puthumai Pannai Women’s Society
• Location: Kadatkaraichchenai, Mutu Division, Kadatkaraichchenai GN, Trincomalee District
• Sponsor: Empower Projects
• Implementing Organisation: Vanni Hope

Dry-food packs were distributed to women and families facing severe livelihood disruption due to the floods.

Impact on the Community

The intervention had a significant and positive impact on the affected families. Women expressed deep gratitude for the timely support, and the food packs provided:

• Immediate relief to households struggling to meet basic needs
• Comfort and stability during a difficult and uncertain time
• Essential support as families work to recover from income losses
• Strengthened resilience and solidarity within the community

Conclusion

The dry-food distribution in Kadatkaraichchenai, carried out by Vanni Hope in partnership with Empower Projects, successfully addressed the urgent needs created by Cyclone Ditwah. The intervention supported vulnerable women-led households and contributed meaningfully to the community’s recovery and wellbeing.

Vanni Hope remains committed to helping families rebuild their livelihoods as part of our ongoing emergency response. If you’d like to support our cyclone response, you can do so via the form below.

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