About 6.3 million people in Sri Lanka, three in ten households, are at risk of food shortages and need assistance, according to the United Nations Food Program (WPF).

61 percent of Sri Lankan households eat less, eat less nutritious food or skip meals, according to a survey by WPF.

The United Nations runs an emergency aid program to help the 3.4 million people in the island nation most vulnerable to food shortages and malnutrition.

Political unrest and economic crisis

The backdrop is the political turmoil that began in April. Sri Lanka is currently in its worst economic crisis in decades and is experiencing, among other things, acute fuel shortages and food shortages. In July, President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the island nation after months of demonstrations and unrest.

Food prices have also skyrocketed, and inflation is around 60 percent, according to figures from authorities.

Children and women in particular are affected by rising prices and food shortages.

– We are very concerned about the impact of the current economic and political crisis on the people of Sri Lanka, said Trine Jøranli Eskedal, Norway’s ambassador to the island nation.

Norway provides NOK 13 million

Norway provides NOK 13 million for urgent needs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs. NOK 5 million goes to the UN food program.

– I am concerned about the food and nutrition crisis that we are seeing in Sri Lanka. The difficult humanitarian situation mainly affects women and children, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in a pers conference.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) receive NOK 5 and 3 million respectively for their work in protecting children and women.