Sri Lanka Economic Crisis June 2022
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence. Prices have gone up by 73% over the past two years, and the population faces shortages of key food items, fuel, medicine, fertilizers, among others.
The economic crisis has particularly impacted food security, agriculture, livelihoods, and access to health services. The United Nations team in Sri Lanka and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have launched a joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan, calling for US$47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to 1.7 million people worst-hit by the economic crisis over a four-month period, from June to September. The plan focuses on health care and essential medicines, food and agriculture—including targeted nutrition services—safe drinking water, emergency livelihoods and protection.
“The UN and humanitarian partners are calling on donors, the private sector and individuals to urgently support this plan to provide life-saving assistance to the women, men, and children most affected by the crisis and thus prevent a deterioration of humanitarian needs in the country.”
- Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka
Mobilizing the Private Sector to Support Humanitarian Response and Recovery
The Asia-Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Sri Lanka (A-PAD Sri Lanka) is a non-profit organisation and a member of the OCHA/UNDP Connecting Business initiative (CBi). It works with over 700 companies and 100 NGOs and government partners to coordinate and facilitate disaster preparedness, relief and recovery activities in Sri Lanka.
A-PAD Sri Lanka is closely coordinating with the National Disaster Management Coordinating Committee (NDMCC) and the local OCHA Humanitarian Advisory Team to contribute to ongoing response efforts. Among other activities, A-PAD Sri Lanka has:
- Coordinated private sector donations of pharmaceutical goods worth over 10 million Sri Lankan Rupees (more than $25,000) to the Government;
- Coordinated with the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Health and other partners to deliver essential medicines;
- Started the implementation of a three-month programme to support school children, in partnership with HSBC Sri Lanka.
