Sri Lanka, Jan. 15 -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has appealed for USD 16.5 million in international assistance to support the early recovery of livelihoods and food security for communities devastated by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.

In a statement issued from its headquarters in Rome, the FAO said Cyclone Ditwah was one of the most severe climate shocks to hit the country in decades, impacting all 25 districts and disrupting the lives of more than 2.2 million people.

Over 1.1 million people are now in urgent need of food security, agricultural and nutrition assistance, at a time when households were already under strain from prolonged economic pressures.

The cyclone struck just as the critical Ma...