By Savithri Rodrigo
Colombo Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_With Sri Lanka’s worse economic crisis since independence seeing cascading impacts on the most vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka, a number of countries and international agencies have begun providing humanitarian aid to help address the most basic needs of these communities. Humanitarian appeals launched by the United Nations, most recently saw Canada provide USD 3 million towards the appeal which will be disbursed through the UN, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Canada’s contribution will be used to support the provision of emergency food assistance, health and nutrition services, access to safe water and other essential services to those who need it most. Canada continues to augment its assistance through international assistance projects which includes the procurement of essential medical equipment and supplies.
As a result of the UN mooted joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HN P) Plan, the UN humanitarian appeal secured USD 101.5 million for Sri Lanka which will be used to provide aid to about 3.4 million falling into the most vulnerable category. In addition to funds from Canada, the HNP Plan has received landmark support from the US and USAID, Australia, Japan and JICA, the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, Italy, the EU, UK, Thailand, Sweden and private individuals and organisations. The total of funds required to meet Sri Lanka’s current humanitarian needs is estimated by the UN at USD 149.7 million.
The HNP Plan intends the humanitarian aid to cover all 25 districts in Sri Lanka. While improving nutrition for children, expectant and breastfeeding women, ensuring safe drinking water and protecting farming and fishing households, the UN stresses the strengthening of food production, delivery and food security. Immediate food assistance is being delivered to revive food systems that have been severely disrupted during the crisis to 2.4 million vulnerable and food-insecure persons, supporting farmers with fertilizer and fishermen with necessary aid to work on a sustainable eco-system in food security.
Poor harvest, lack of foreign exchange and reduced purchasing power has resulted in significant food insecurity in Sri Lanka, while food inflation skyrocketed to 85.6 percent in October, but has seen a gradual decline to 64.4% in December. All these factors have permeated to an increase in poverty levels from 13.1 percent in 2021 to 25.6 percent in 2022 Year on Year.
January 9, 2023
