Stephanie Wilcock, Director for Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), recently visited Sri Lanka to learn about the food and nutrition needs of poor rural communities. During her visit, Wilcock met with community members to understand their struggles and learn how the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is using US-funded programs to help alleviate their challenges.
One of the communities Wilcock visited was Rathnapura, where she met with families who are facing food insecurity due to high food prices and unemployment. These families will soon receive US-funded cash assistance from the WFP worth LKR 20,000 (approximately US$55) per month for four consecutive months. This cash assistance will empower them with the choice to meet their essential needs in local markets, while also helping to boost the local economy.
The United States has been a significant contributor to Sri Lanka’s emergency operation requirement, having provided US$20 million (LKR 7.3 billion) in funding in 2022. This funding accounts for nearly one-third of Sri Lanka’s emergency operation requirement. With these funds, the WFP can provide cash, food assistance, and value vouchers to food-insecure families in Sri Lanka. In addition, the WFP can also support national food and nutrition programs, including school meals and Thriposha, a fortified blended food product for pregnant and nursing mothers and young children.
USAID’s support for the Sri Lankan government through the WFP has helped improve the country’s capacity in disaster risk management, particularly against natural hazards. During her visit, Wilcock also visited an emergency operations center in Rathnapura to observe how US funding has enabled the development of district-level emergency coordination systems. These systems provide timely information to safeguard communities from natural hazards such as floods and landslides.
“Sri Lanka continues to experience significantly high levels of food insecurity, affecting over 30 percent of the population, most notably among the poor” said Gerard Rebello, Acting Country Director for WFP Sri Lanka. “We are extremely grateful for the invaluable support from the Government and people of the United States, which has been critical in enabling WFP to expand its emergency assistance. The funding from USAID will help WFP address humanitarian needs and prevent food insecurity from deteriorating further.”
Since June 2022, the WFP has reached two million people through its emergency operation, with plans to reach 3.4 million people with food and nutrition assistance in the coming months. The WFP has been able to provide this assistance thanks to funding from donors like the US. Their programs not only provide immediate relief to those in need but also help build resilience and prepare communities for future crises.
