The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Program have warned of severe food insecurity in Sri Lanka, where some 6.3 million people are at risk of starvation.
In a report released yesterday by the Joint Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission, the two organizations said they expect the situation to worsen from October to February unless adequate assistance and livelihoods are provided.
She pointed out that the report found that two consecutive seasons of crop failures resulted in a nearly 50% decline in production, in addition to a reduction in food grain imports due to foreign exchange restrictions.
Both organizations stressed that immediate food assistance and livelihood programs through existing social assistance mechanisms are critical to providing families with access to healthy food.
