Food Security during financial crisis in Sri Lanka

Dear Supporter,

We appreciate your generosity, kindness, and assistance with the Street Child's Food Security program in Sri Lanka. An update on the project’s progress is something we are happy to share.

Progress up to December 2023:

• Upon completion of the house hold survey- a summary report was generated and relevant findings were presented. The findings revealed that livelihood options were becoming both challenging and limited in the wake of the financial crisis.
• From the survey, over 66 % of the families were considered “daily wagers/ laborers” with the remainder 44% considered as “farmers and shop keepers”.

Nature of the livelihood

Farming - 5

Fisheries - 23

Laborer/daily wagers - 61

Shop keeping - 3

•  Access to sustainable income has become challenging with 93 % of the community receiving below Rs.10,000, whereas only 7% of the community received Rs10,000 -20,000.
• The nutrition status of young children: over 50% of parents lacked awareness of their children's nutritional status and were unfamiliar with the Child Health Development Record (CHDR). This issue is closely tied to the parents' educational background and their limited knowledge about nutritional eating and cooking practices. Specifically, their unfamiliarity with optimal food selection with locally available resource and healthy feeding practices plays a crucial role in influencing the Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) status of their children. Addressing financial issue and knowledge gap is essential for fostering healthier nutritional habits and improving a child’s overall well-being. Conversely, the remaining 70% of families face challenges with the consumption of protein-based sources. Additionally, 45% of families are cohabiting with extended family members.
• 60% of the adults of the families are skipping their food consumption specially lunch or breakfast adults due to the unaffordability of food.

Considering the complex and potentially life-threatening status, Street Child is eagerly awaiting the necessary funds to support the remaining project activities aimed at addressing the ongoing food security issues in Sri Lanka.

Dear Supporter,

We appreciate your generosity, kindness, and assistance with the Street Child's Food Security program in Sri Lanka. An update on the project’s progress is something we are happy to share.

• The proposed food security program to address the financial crisis in Sri Lanka has gradually begun with discussions at the regional health level, involving the Deputy Director of the Health Department, followed by divisional-level discussions on child malnutrition status and household food intake to prevent diseases and ensure regular school attendance.
• A required questionnaire has been developed and designed using the KOBO tool, and volunteers have been trained to conduct household surveys.
• The household survey has been completed with 100 randomly selected families across Trincomalee, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa districts, as suggested by the Medical Officers of Maternal and Child Health (MOMCHs) and Public Health Midwives (PHMs)in the respective required areas.

Street Child Sri Lanka is eagerly awaiting the necessary funds to support the remaining project activities aimed at addressing the ongoing food security issues in Sri Lanka.