Two months after Cyclone Ditwah struck the country, the government is still in the process of completing the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), Daily Mirror reports. The assessment is crucial for determining the replacement cost required to rehabilitate infrastructure damaged by the disaster.
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on November 27, 2025, bringing heavy rainfall and landslides that caused widespread flooding. The cyclone caused extensive damage to agriculture, irrigation systems, highways, electricity infrastructure, railway lines, and buildings. The World Bank has estimated the damage at US$4.1 billion, though the actual replacement cost is expected to be significantly higher.
The government has initiated the PDNA to calculate these costs, which are essential for mobilising funds for reconstruction. Technical assistance for the assessment is being provided by the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Ministry of Finance.
A source familiar with the process stated that the key findings of the PDNA are expected to be ready by mid-February. The assessment is being conducted across 12 sectors, after which the government will need to determine how to secure financing for the restoration and rehabilitation work.
