The United Nations has warned of a worsening food crisis in bankrupt Sri Lanka. UN agencies working in Sri Lanka said that the number of people needing urgent humanitarian help had doubled to 3.4 million.
The agencies had estimated in June that 1.7 million out of the 22 million population in Sri Lanka required help. The UN said its revised plan aims at feeding 2.1 million people, including pregnant mothers and school children and providing livelihood support to 1.5 million farmers and fishermen.
In a joint statement on Tuesday the UN agencies working in Sri Lanka said that they had raised $79m to feed those in need, but the increasing number of poor people meant an additional $70m was needed.
“Food insecurity in Sri Lanka has increased dramatically due to two consecutive seasons of poor harvests, foreign exchange shortages, and reduced household purchasing power,” the statement said.
It also said that the poverty rate in the South Asian nation has doubled to 25.6% this year, up from 13.1% last year.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948 and has been enduring runaway inflation, power blackouts, and fuel rationing since last year. The country defaulted on its $51 billion external debt in mid April and is in talks with the IMF for a $2.9 billion bailout.
The agencies had estimated in June that 1.7 million out of the 22 million population in Sri Lanka required help. The UN said its revised plan aims at feeding 2.1 million people, including pregnant mothers and school children and providing livelihood support to 1.5 million farmers and fishermen.
In a joint statement on Tuesday the UN agencies working in Sri Lanka said that they had raised $79m to feed those in need, but the increasing number of poor people meant an additional $70m was needed.
“Food insecurity in Sri Lanka has increased dramatically due to two consecutive seasons of poor harvests, foreign exchange shortages, and reduced household purchasing power,” the statement said.
It also said that the poverty rate in the South Asian nation has doubled to 25.6% this year, up from 13.1% last year.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948 and has been enduring runaway inflation, power blackouts, and fuel rationing since last year. The country defaulted on its $51 billion external debt in mid April and is in talks with the IMF for a $2.9 billion bailout.
