Monday October 6, 2025 5:00 pm
Monday October 6, 2025 5:00 pm
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka follows India and Bangladesh in highest absolute number of child displacements linked to weather-related disasters, a United Nations Children’s Fund – South Asia report showed.
“India, given its large population, experienced the highest absolute number of child displacements linked to weather-related disasters during this period, totaling 6.9 million across all hazards,” according to the report.
“Bangladesh recorded the highest relative impacts, with child displacements representing an estimated 7.2 per cent of its child population.
“Sri Lanka followed closely, with an estimated 4.6 per cent of its under-18 population displaced over the past seven years.”
The country saw an average of 965 child displacements per disaster from 2016 to 2022.
Over the seven years, 4.6 percent or approximately 280,000 Sri Lankan children have been displaced.
Storms caused 54 percent of the displacement, while floods forced 44 percent to leave home.
Tropical Cyclone Roanu, which in 2016 brought the heaviest rainfall to Sri Lanka in over a quarter-century, resulted in around 141,000 children in Sri Lanka becoming displaced, the report showed.
However, most of these were due to pre-emptive displacements, such as evacuations, which means fatalities were averted, UNICEF pointed out.
“When analysing the regional data, it is crucial to acknowledge that many displacement figures stem from pre-emptive evacuations, particularly in countries with established evacuation procedures and early-warning policies like Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka.
“While these evacuations constitute a form of displacement and can create vulnerabilities for children, they have proven highly effective at protecting lives, with fatalities from natural hazards – especially cyclones – decreasing dramatically since implementing such preventive measures.”
South Asians face vulnerability to displacement due to weather-related disasters and the impacts of climate change, the report pointed out, heightened by rising sea levels, extreme weather occurrences, and various other hazards.
Disasters often force people to flee home, resulting in profound socioeconomic consequences.
“Amidst these crises, children face considerable risk, including disruptions to their education and healthcare and increased exposure to protection violations, including violence and exploitation.”
UNICEF urged governments, donors, development partners, and the private sector to join forces to enhance children’s protection, preparedness, and inclusion in policy and action. (Colombo/Oct6/2025)
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