Sri Lanka was facing a reversal in poverty levels since the COVID-19 pandemic and faces the risk of many new groups following suit along with those who are already poor falling deeper into poverty. Hence, immediate measures must be taken to support the poor and ensure their livelihood sustenance to some extent. As the current fiscal restrictions pose a challenge in supporting all groups in need, emergency relief efforts need to be targeted toward the most vulnerable so as to not further increase the poverty level. Providing cash transfers is one such relief option. They were widely popular as a global emergency response during COVID-19. While Sri Lanka also adopted this as a response to the pandemic, the key in this context would be to provide an adequate assistance to the most deserving households. Although this may include a considerably large number of at-risk families due to rising inflationary pressure, unfortunately only those in dire need of support must be beneficiaries at this time.

An estimated 4.9 million people 22 percent of the population are currently food-insecure and require humanitarian assistance.

Reduced domestic agricultural production, scarcity of foreign exchange reserves and depreciation of the local currency have caused food shortages and a spike in the cost of living, which is limiting peoples access to healthy and affordable meals.

The economic crisis will push families into hunger and poverty, some for the first time adding to the half a million people who the World Bank estimates have fallen below the poverty line because of the pandemic.

Batticaloa Underprivileged Development Society known as BUDS would like to step in during this time to support families in the prevention and management of moderate acute malnutrition. Projects include strengthening national capacities to improve the availability, accessibility and consumption of fortified foods; strengthening programmatic efforts through research on food security and nutrition; and developing a social behaviour change communication strategy to improve dietary practices.

As the first step, BUDS in collaboration with FOBH providing nutritious food packs to pregnant mothers and children under 5 year olds where who are severely affected by malnutrition. BUDS have identified two villages that were hit hardest to provide food, support education and other factors which are needed immediately.

Every step you take, every kilometre you clock, helps our struggling communities in Eastern province of Sri-Lanka.

Newsletter-issue-2-october-2021

Newsletter-2020