UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

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, UNICEF works to meet the immediate nutrition and health needs of the most vulnerable populations in Sri Lanka and to help prevent and treat malnutrition through the continuation and scale-up of critical nutrition-specific programs. Project activities include: (1) treating children with malnutrition, and providing access to micronutrients; and (2) providing essential medicines, supplies and devices.