INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday began distributing food vouchers to pregnant women in underserved districts of the Sri Lankan
crisis since independence.WFP is working to provide life-saving food, cash and voucher assistance to three million of the most vulnerable
people who can no longer meet their food needs due to the unprecedented economic meltdown.Last week, the UN and partners launched a joint
Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan (HNP) requesting more than $47 million, to aid some 1.7 million worst hit by the spiraling economic
crisis, which has seen the country struggling to pay for essential imports, amid rising debt, food, fuel and medical supply shortages.The
multi-pronged crisis that has led to widespread protests, was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated collapse of the tourism
sector across the South Asian island nation.Food inflation in Colombo rose to a record high of 57.4 percent in May, said WFP in a press
release, and widespread shortages of fuel for cooking and transport, means that poorer families are struggling to feed themselves.Nearly
five million people, or 22 percent of the Sri Lankan population, are food insecure and in need of assistance, the agency said
Nutritious foods, such as vegetables, fruits and protein-rich products are now out of reach for many.WFP surveys indicate that 86 percent of
and the Pacific from Colombo
seen their incomes plummet while market prices have soared
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
