Canadian Red Cross

Published purpose

June 2022 – Since March 2020, Sri Lanka has been facing a growing economic and financial crisis. This crisis intensified throughout 2021, leading to a shortage of essential food and non-food items, significant increases in commodity prices and the devaluation of the Sri Lankan rupee. The key humanitarian impacts include the loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, lack of drinking water, power cuts and shortages of life-saving medicines, among other issues. The United Nations estimates that 5.7 million people across 25 districts of Sri Lanka require humanitarian assistance as a result of this multi-dimensional crisis. With GAC’s support, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) works to meet the immediate food, health, protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs of the most vulnerable populations in Sri Lanka, through an integrated and multi-sectoral response. Project activities include: (1) distributing nutritional dry rations, school packs and menstrual hygiene products to vulnerable households; (2) delivering mental health, psychosocial support and first aid support; (3) providing safe drinking water; and (4) training volunteers on preventing and addressing sexual and gender-based violence.