WFP welcomes Norway’s support to address rising food insecurity in SL

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a critical contribution of NOK 5 million (approximately Rs. 189 million, or USD 500,000) from the Government of Norway to support Sri Lankans struggling to feed their families.WFP’s emergency food and nutrition operation aims to assist 3.4 million Sri Lankans most at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition amid record food inflation, skyrocketing fuel prices and widespread shortages of essential commodities.

“We are deeply concerned about the impact of the current economic and political crisis on the people of Sri Lanka. The food shortages and increasing prices have a particularly adverse effect on children and women. We consider it an urgent priority to address the immediate food and nutrition needs. Norway is now contributing NOK 5 million (approximately Rs. 189 million) to the efforts of the World Food Programme in assisting the most vulnerable groups in Sri Lanka,” Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Trine Jøranli Eskedal said.

“We are grateful to the Norwegian Government for this much-needed contribution to WFP’s efforts to assist three million people struggling to meet basic food needs. Acting now helps us to reduce the impact of the crisis on the poorest, most vulnerable Sri Lankans,” WFP in Sri Lanka Representative and Country Director Abdur Rahim Siddiqui said.

WFP is boosting existing social safety net programs to assist one million children through the national school meal program, one million targeted beneficiaries as part of a government program which provides fortified food to mothers and children, and almost one and a half million people in need of emergency food assistance through food, cash, or vouchers.

Nearly 6.3 million people – or 3 in 10 households – are food insecure and in need of -assistance. WFP’s recent surveys indicated that 61% of families are resorting to at least one coping mechanism, including eating less, eating less nutritious food, and even skipping meals altogether.Over six million people in Sri Lanka are “food insecure”, according the WFP surveys.