According to the Parliamentary Special Committee’s report on child malnutrition, about 16,000 children in Sri Lanka are suffering from acute malnutrition. The report also reveals that one-quarter of the country’s families depend on food from their neighbors.
The reports show that food insecurity has increased significantly. In March of last year, 17% of households were food insecure, but this figure rose to 24% by the third quarter of the year. Additionally, one-third of families have cut back on cooking or limited their food intake.
The report states that 98% of the population is impacted by rising food prices, and 74% of households cannot afford to buy food or other necessities. Compared to 2022, there has been an increase in underweight and stunting among infants and children up to two years old. The district of Nuwara Eliya has the highest underweight rate, at 24.6%. As of June 2023, 10% of children in Sri Lanka are affected by malnutrition, with 1.2% of all children under five experiencing acute malnutrition.
Chethana Gomis
