Storms in South Asia: Switzerland deploys specialists and equipment
Bern, 04.12.2025 — For several weeks now, cyclones and torrential rain have been causing major damage in many countries in South and South-East Asia. The situation is particularly serious in Sri Lanka, which has launched an appeal for international aid. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is deploying specialists and equipment to meet needs in the region, particularly in the field of water and sanitation.
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam are among the countries particularly affected, with massive flooding and landslides. The situation is particularly serious in Sri Lanka. According to the authorities, more than 1.3 million people have been affected by the disaster, including 180,000 displaced persons and a provisional death toll of 390, with 250 missing. Faced with the scale of the disaster, the country has launched an appeal for international aid.
Switzerland has offered its assistance to the Sri Lankan authorities, who have accepted. The FDFA is preparing to deploy a team of six members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit. These are mainly water, sanitation and hygiene specialists. They will be joined by an expert in disaster risk reduction from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), based in India. The SDC is also reviewing requests from the United Nations for other types of expertise, particularly in emergency shelter and reconstruction. In addition, it is planning the delivery of equipment for the treatment and supply of drinking water. These include drinking water distribution modules for 10,000 people.
Well-established emergency response system in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia
In the Philippines, the SDC already granted CHF 500,000 to the Philippine Red Cross a fortnight ago. This is to meet the needs of the population affected by several successive typhoons. In Vietnam, the SDC has allocated CHF 200,000 to support reconstruction efforts from the beginning of next year. The aim will be to restore livelihoods that have been severely affected, particularly in the agricultural sector.
As far as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are concerned, no request for international aid has yet been made. The South-East Asia region – and these three countries in particular – has a well-established regional emergency response system, thanks in particular to the SDC's financial and technical support. The SDC is in constant contact with all the disaster management bodies in the countries of the region.
At present, the FDFA has no information on Swiss nationals who have been injured or affected.