By Susitha Fernando Colombo 7th September : With the rising food prices and the rising cost of living in Sri Lanka, the most recent report of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) revealed that the number of hungry people was climbing rapidly as four of five households were limiting portions.Four of of five households were restricting portions and avoiding meals in order to be able to cope with the current economic crisis.
In the course of intensifying its emergency operations The WFP plans to help 3.4 million people with cash, food or vouchers, while also supporting national programs, such as school meals.They will also providing fortified food items to breastfeeding and pregnant mothers and children.
In the past, the World Food Programme’s Situation Report for August showed that 6.3 million people were struggling with food insecurity and 6.7 million of approximately 22 million people were not eating enough portions.
The new report was written after a two-day trip by John Aylieff, the WFP’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific in the nation’s island.
“Millions of the poorest Sri Lankans are unable to afford a decent diet, and we are worried that the situation will get worse in the coming weeks,” said Aylieff.
“This means that the response of the WFP is crucial.Our goal is to provide families with vital nutrition and food assistance with children as well as women at the forefront of our efforts.”
The WFP report, which was released on Tuesday, showed that families were “facing difficulties in getting food, amidst the loss of income and high levels of prices for food as well as interruptions in the supply chain for food, and extreme shortages of basic necessities, such as fuel”.
“Prices in urban areas of Colombo’s capital city of Colombo continue to rise as the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) increased to 64.3 percent in August (year-on-year).This was yet another alarming increase, which was in comparison to 60.8 percent in July” the report said.
In the midst of this, the nation continues to wrestle with the most severe economic crisis since it gained independence in 1948 The WFP warned that if “prices continue to increase there are serious fears that the situation in terms of food security could worsen even more”.
The country is caught in the midst of a debt crisis and poor management of the economy under the previous administration that included tax reductions to attract approval and an all-night prohibition of chemical fertilizers by the government of the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, people have been suffering from massive fuel, food and medicine shortages, as well as power shortages since the beginning of this year.
The tourism industry in the country is one of the biggest sources of foreign income is being severely impacted because of the crisis.
It was already suffering from the Covid-19 virus and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
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