ECONOMYNEXT – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) has made an international appeal to raise 28 million Swiss francs (28.9 million dollars) for urgent humanitarian assistance to help 2.4 million most vulnerable Sri Lankans affected by the economic crisis.
“The effects of the economic crisis are being felt in every single sector. The economic crisis is plunging those most vulnerable – some 2.4 million people already living below the poverty line into despair,” IFRC’s Special advisor for Humanitarian Crises and Emergencies Maryann Horne said.
“With no income, people are barely able to cope and are now selling their assets, getting into debt, being forced to cut down on food while many children are not able to go to school.
“The emergency appeal will allow the most urgent humanitarian needs to be met. It will help prevent those most vulnerable at a time people have no cash, no jobs, and no fuel.”
IFRC through the local Red Cross representative SLRCS has provided over 10,000 dry ration food packs and 4000 cash grants in 25 districts and 5000 school packs have been given out in 10 districts.
It has also provided ambulance services to over 1000 people in the recent protests.
“…It’s even worse for single-parent households, and millions who cannot work or send their children to school because of the fuel crisis,” Sri Lanka Red Cross Secretary General, Mahesh Gunasekara, said.
“We need international support now to help millions of people pull their lives back together and avoid the worse. We need to act early to ensure lives can be saved.” (Colombo/July22/2022)
