🔗 Share this article Tropical Storm Disaster in the Island Nation Ignites a Wave of Volunteerism Watch: The nation's communities submerged after catastrophic rains. Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold navigates a small craft through Colombo's suburbs, hoping to deliver essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances. Some of the families, Mr Reginold says, have gone without help for days, cut off by the country's most severe natural catastrophe in recent years. The powerful storm lashed the country last week, bringing widespread destruction that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, with hundreds unaccounted for and destroyed 20,000 homes. But the flooding has also inspired a rise in community help, as citizens face what national leaders has described as the "gravest natural disaster" in its history. "The main reason for getting involved, is to at least ensure they get one meal," he shares. "And I was deeply gratified that I was able to do that." Volunteers have been using fishing boats out to evacuate people and deliver aid. More than one million people have been affected by the disaster and a state of emergency has been announced. The military has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is arriving from international partners and non-governmental organisations. But it will be a long journey to rebuild for Sri Lanka, which has seen its fair share of turmoil in recent years. Community Organizers Volunteer at Local Food Hub In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now helping run a makeshift kitchen that produces food aid. The protests from three years ago were fuelled by a spiralling economic crisis that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration erupted and led to political change. Now, that political activism is being directed toward disaster response. "People came after work, some rotated shifts and some even took leave to be there," a social media activist states. "We mobilized our network as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says. At a local kitchen in Wijerama, helpers prepare meals for flood-affected residents. The organizer also views the kitchen as an "continuation" of his community service in 2016, when torrential rain and floods killed hundreds across the country. The team have compiled hundreds of requests for help, sent the information to authorities, and managed the distribution of food. "Every request we made, we got more than enough in response from the community," he notes. Online Initiatives for Aid A wave of coordination is also happening online, where netizens have created a public database to channel resources and volunteers. Another volunteer-backed website helps donors find shelters and identify what is in highest demand in those areas. Local businesses have launched donation drives, while media outlets have initiated an campaign to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes. Amid criticism over the management of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "set aside all political differences" and "unite to rebuild the nation". Opposition politicians have accused authorities of ignoring weather warnings, which they say exacerbated the disaster's effects. Recently, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in parliament, arguing that the government was trying to limit debate on the disaster. On the ground, however, there remains a feeling of unity as people pick up the pieces after the floods. "In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else to save lives makes that exhaustion fade," one volunteer wrote after putting in long hours at aid centers. "Disasters are not new to us. But, the compassion and capacity of our hearts is larger than the destruction that occurs during a disaster."