Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 10th June. United Nations on Thursday has appealed $47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to over 1.7 million people in Sri Lanka who are experiencing a multidimensional economic crisis, which is compounded by food insecurity, rising protection concerns and shortages threatening lives and livelihoods, in a press release issued in New York
UN-backed international assistance, the Organization and other partners launched a joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan to aid 1.7 million people worst-hit by the economic crisis, it stated.
According to the UN humanitarian plan, this will cover the period from June to September this year, it will focus on most urgent needs such as healthcare and essential medicines, food and agriculture, including targeted nutrition services, safe drinking water; emergency livelihoods; and protection.
Development and humanitarian partners in Sri Lanka estimated that 5.7 million citizens require immediate humanitarian assistance, in 25 districts across the country.
The 1.7 million people targeted under the HNP are among those whose livelihoods, food security and access to health services are most at risk.
UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, stressed the urgent need to prevent a humanitarian crisis later in the year, while bridging efforts towards more long-term development needs.
She pointed out that “Sri Lanka’s once-strong healthcare system is now in jeopardy, livelihoods are suffering and the most vulnerable are facing the greatest impact.”
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.
The persistent fiscal deficits, a significant 2019 tax cut package, and the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic has made Sri Lanka’s public debt burden unsustainable, while the collapse of tourism led foreign exchange receipts to plummet.
According to the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, the food and energy price index shocked this year due to the Ukraine crisis have led to a debt and balance-of-payments crisis.
The food inflation stood at 57.4 per cent, while shortages of other key items, including fuel for cooking, transport, and industry, remain widespread, OCHA said.
Government of Sri Lanka had to declare daily electricity cuts due to the unavailability of imported fuel, and surveys show that about 11 per cent of households reported earning no income at all, while 62 per cent said that it had been reduced, slashing the money available for food in March.
The currency has depreciated by 80 per cent currency depreciation since March, which foreign reserves continued to fall, further damaging the economy.
Ms. Hamdy said that “Now is the time for the international community to show solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka,” said the Resident Coordinator.
The economic crisis has taken a severe toll on food security, agriculture, work, and access to vital health services.
Food production in the last harvest season was 40 to 50 per cent lower than last year, and current seed and fertilizer shortages, as well as lack of credit for food producers, threatens the next production cycle.
Prices have jumped significantly since the end of 2021, forcing families to resort to skipping meals, eating less expensive foods, or limiting portion sizes.
“Multiple factors are impacting Sri Lanka’s food security situation, if we don’t act now, many families will be unable to meet their basic food needs,” said Singer-Hamdy.
Hundreds of essential medicines are out of stock, as are over 2,700 surgical items, and some 250 different essential laboratory items.
Power cuts and a lack of generator fuel have forced many hospitals to postpone routine and non-urgent surgeries.
Ms. Singer-Hamdy said “The UN and humanitarian partners are calling on donors, the private sector and individuals to urgently support this plan to provide life-saving assistance to the women, men, and children most affected by the crisis and thus prevent a deterioration of humanitarian needs in the country.”
According to the World Food agency, the ongoing crisis has constrained government assistance.
In suspending national social safety net programmes, it has left women and children without this crucial lifeline, it said.
The disruptions in the school meal programme – one of the largest safety nets in the country – limit nutritious meals to 25 per cent of schoolchildren.
‘Thriposha’ nutritional support programme for pregnant women and young children has also been cut. Coupled with income losses, this could lead to higher rates of malnutrition for women and their children.
WFP said that it will support the resumption of the Thriposha nutrition programme and provide cash assistance to enroll or wait listed households in the national social safety net programmes – prioritizing children, women, and people with disabilities.
The agency will provide food to children enrolled in the national school meal programme, which has seen funding cuts due to Government fiscal constraints.
WFP and the FAO are compiling crop and food security assessments to help authorities better understand the impact of the economic crisis and help plan an adequate response, they added.
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