Sri Lanka continues to experience high levels of food insecurity

Sri Lanka continues to experience significantly high levels of food insecurity, the UN World Food Program (WFP) said. “ We agree with this comment because we are experiencing since last year that they are gradually losing their daily food.” Said the People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL).

“Sri Lanka continues to experience significantly high levels of food insecurity, affecting over 30 percent of the population, most notably among the poor,” said Gerard Rebello, Acting Country Director for WFP Sri Lanka.

He made this comment on the occasion of WFP welcoming Stephanie Wilcock, Director for Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) on a visit to Sri Lanka.

During the visit, Wilcock met with poor rural communities to understand their food and nutrition needs, and how WFP’s US-funded programs will help them overcome challenges brought on by the economic crisis.

As part of the visit, Wilcock travelled to Rathnapura, where she spoke with food-insecure families faced with high food prices and unemployment. The community will soon receive US-funded cash assistance through WFP worth LKR 20,000 (approximately US$55) for four consecutive months which will empower them with the choice to meet their essential needs in local markets, while also helping to boost the economy.

“Sri Lanka continues to experience significantly high levels of food insecurity, affecting over 30 percent of the population, most notably among the poor,” said Gerard Rebello, Acting Country Director for WFP Sri Lanka. “We are extremely grateful for the invaluable support from the Government and people of the United States, which has been critical in enabling WFP to expand its emergency assistance.

Further confirming the comments made by Gerard Rubello, Acting Director of the United Nations World Food Program yesterday, Priyankara Costa the Coordinator of the People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL) Network of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) told Mojo News, an organization that works for the rights of fishermen, peasants, and women suffering from the grassroots level in 15 districts across the country, including the North East, that statement is very true. “ we are experiencing, since last year they are gradually losing their daily food.” He said.

Priyankara Costa outlined the opinions expressed by the fishermen as well as the farmers who are used to eating not only three meals but also very good nutritious food every day, said that he regretfully stated that they do not consume a lot of vegetables or expensive vegetables at all, And had stopped totally meat consuming on every Sundays. Also now cooks fish according to the number of persons in the family.

“Thus the people of the entire country are facing a severe food crisis, among which the poor people living in the middle of the country and the plantation people can be highlighted,” Priyankara Costa said.

He said that although most of these people are agriculturists, nowadays they mainly have to eat only rice and one vegetable daily. Therefore pregnant women and children have become the most victims in this situation.

Priyankara Costa also said that it is the experience of the teachers that the number of students coming to school has dropped to 50 percent because they cannot go to school with empty lunch boxes and this is due to the lack of food.

He further said that Sri Lanka, which was self-sufficient in food in the past, has faced such a tragedy because the people who rule the state operate with the sole aim of maintaining their power and do not pay any attention to the citizens of the country who are facing crises.

He said that whether development work is taken or any other program is taken, it is only for the survival and development of the capitalist class and not for the survival, protection or development of the 50 percent marginal community and the poor community living in this country.

The United States has funded nearly one-third of Sri Lanka’s emergency operation requirement, with a contribution of US$ 20 million (LKR 7.3 billion) in 2022. The funds allow WFP to provide cash, food assistance and value vouchers to food-insecure families, and to support national food and nutrition programs, including school meals and Thriposha (nutrition food), a fortified blended food product for pregnant and nursing mothers and young children.

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