Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence. Concurrent challenges in public finance and sovereign debt, as well as the availability and affordability of food, fuels, fertilizers, and medicines, have disrupted livelihoods across the country.
The significant reduction in agricultural production in Sri Lanka, compounded by the rising prices of fuel and basic food items, have made food unaffordable for a segment of the population, and the government has forecasted food shortages during the next months. Hospitals in the country report shortages of essential medicines and other health items, while frequent power outages affect the delivery of health services. Negative coping mechanisms are threatening the loss of livelihoods, and an observed rise in violence raises protection concerns. An estimated 5.7 million people are in need (PIN) of humanitarian assistance in 25 districts across the country. Of those, the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan (HNP) aims to reach 1.7 million people, requiring $47.2 million in humanitarian funding.
Learn how the private sector can help in this brief OCHA Business Guide to the multidimensional crisis in Sri Lanka.
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OCHA Business Guide: Humanitarian Needs and Priorities - Sri Lanka