Sri Lankan Economic Crisis
Sri Lanka continues to experience public demonstrations across the country as the country faces its worst economic crisis since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1948. Sri Lanka's sudden devaluation of the local currency and imposition of import limits on hundreds of items have resulted in a heavy shortage of fuel, long hours of power cuts and soaring inflation. With the prices of essential items sky high, the country is already facing a huge shortage in food and medicine. The Government Medical Officers’ Association has warned of a health emergency as hospitals are running out essential medicines.
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Organizations Responding to the Sri Lankan Economic Crisis
Foundation of Goodness: We are supporting daily wage earners with food supplies. A pack for a family of 4 is US$25 and we also have a US$1000 for the staff salaries that we have to fund for these special projects.
Socio-Economic, Ecological, Religious, Virtuous Empowerment: Sri Lanka has fallen into its worst financial crisis since independence, with food, fuel, medicine and electricity becoming increasingly scarce. The Ministry of Finance has announced a unilateral suspension of payments on external foreign currency debt. Also, all Government budgets will be reduced and the allocations for welfare too will be less. SERVE continues to support the needy especially children, youth and women. We have been actively continuing working to cater to and empower these target groups. The Covid pandemic made things worse for the low income families. Now the high inflation , limited availability of basic food and other items and services have made life very difficult for all. We are keen to further support students to continue schooling while ensuring their protection. Also, to provide food, medication and other basic needs to our beneficiaries. Strengthen the women and mother led income generation activities as well as engage in social enterprises. Also, strengthen our welfare for children under 5 years living with their convicted and remaining mothers in prisons. In addition, we would be happy to facilitate any assistance if possible with a specific focus for medical needs of children and mothers. We also have a need for solar power due to long power cuts.
World Vision Lanka (Guarantee) limited: Sri Lanka’s neonatologists have made a desperate call for urgent medical supplies such as Endotracheal tubes, among other crucial drugs and medical equipment to treat and save new-borns needing emergency care. Our teams on the ground have already identified 50,000 families who are economically most vulnerable due to the current situation and will deliver food programming either through direct food aid or cash voucher transfer to support them as an immediate step. A feeding programme for children in schools/pre-schools and child development centres in the plantation sector.
- Sevalanka Foundation (Guarantee) Limited:
- PHASE 1:
- Provide basic food items to the most vulnerable families in 23 districts (Dry rations packages for 2 months to 300 families in each district)
- Provide supplementary food packages to low income families with 2 or more children under the age of 5 in 23 districts (supplementary food packages for 2 months to 200 families in each district)
- Identify old age homes and orphanages that are running out of support for their basic meals and provide them with dry rations for 2 months (To support 50 old age homes and 50 orphanages).
- Provide urgently needed medical supplies to rural hospitals that are experiencing shortages.(We are waiting for the official sources to publish the information regarding the specific medical supplies needed in the rural hospitals).
- PHASE 2 (after 3 months):
- Livelihood inputs to low income families where the main income earners has lost their job due to the current economic crisis (100 families per district) in 23 districts - inputs + training and market linkage support.
- PHASE 1:
