The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has escalated into a severe hunger crisis, with half of the country’s households forced to reduce the amount of food they provide for their children. save the Children, Child rights organizations have warned that the government and the international community must act urgently to prevent Sri Lankan children from becoming the lost generation.
financial crisis Families are struggling to cope as a result of shortages of food, medicine and fuel, and lack of stable employment. Since the government defaulted on its debt about a year ago, the country has experienced a rising inflation rate with year-on-year inflation exceeding 50%, making it the seventh highest nominal food inflation rate in the world. .
save the ChildrenThe survey of 2,308 households in nine Sri Lankan districts revealed that average household spending increased by 18% between June and December 2020, while 23% of households were unable to meet most or all of their basic needs during that period .
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Over the past six months, more households have resorted to desperate measures to survive, with a 24% increase in households borrowing, a 24% increase in households buying food on credit, and a 24% increase in households selling household goods has increased by 28%. cash.
Female-headed households are particularly vulnerable, with women at increased risk of being trafficked or exploited, working overtime, and migrating for work. According to the child rights organization, this puts children at risk as they are left alone.
According to the survey, 27% of households are skipping meals to feed their children, while nine out of ten households cannot guarantee nutritious food for their children. The situation is particularly challenging for families who are struggling to provide balanced meals for all three of their children.
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Even simple nutritious food like eggs and curd has become so expensive for them that they cannot afford, due to which they are not able to feed their children. On most days, they are forced to prioritize their child’s nutrition, leaving their older children without adequate food.
The survey also found that 70% of households lost all or most of their sources of income between June and December 2020. More than half of these households (54%) now derive their main household income from seasonal and casual jobs, making it difficult for children to know where their next meal is coming from.
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save the Children called for the rapid creation of social protection systems with the support of the international community to prevent a full-blown hunger crisis in Sri Lanka. The organization said that all humanitarian interventions should take into account the patriarchal gender dynamics of communities so that needs are met.
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