Funding from France to help WFP SL deliver food assistance to children at risk of malnutrition

From right: Ambassador of France in Sri Lanka Jean-François Pactet met with WFP Sri Lanka Representative and Country Director Abdur Rahim Siddiqui to discuss plans for improving food and nutrition security in the country

Sri Lanka received a contribution of Rs.190 million from France, via the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), as emergency response for children and families affected by the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. 

Around 9,000 families facing high levels of food insecurity will receive nutritious foods to help them feed their under-five children.  

Each family will receive a food basket – valued at Rs.15,000 (approximately EUR 40) and consisting of eggs, rice, fresh milk, red lentils and other protein-rich pulses – every fortnight over a period of one year. 

“France stands in solidarity with Sri Lanka in the current crisis,” said Ambassador of France in Sri Lanka Jean-François Pactet, in a statement to the media. 

“Today, food security is a major global challenge and France is committed to promote international cooperation to respond to it. The French contribution to the WFP in Sri Lanka will bolster the resilience of the most vulnerable populations and help fight malnutrition among under-five children,” he said.  

According to the WFP-FAO Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) that was carried out in June-July this year, nearly 30 percent of the country’s population (6.3 million people) are food insecure. The WFP’s latest surveys indicate that nearly seven out of 10 households are using negative coping strategies, such as skipping meals, limiting portion sizes and eating less nutritious food.

“Parents are cutting back on what they eat to be able to feed their children. Steep food price increases, loss of jobs and reduced incomes are pushing nutritious meals out of reach for millions of people. 

“We are grateful for this timely contribution from France. It will enable us to provide critical food assistance to young children to stave off malnutrition,” said WFP Sri Lanka Representative and Country Director Abdur Rahim Siddiqui. 

The WFP will work in partnership with the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians to reach children in areas where malnutrition rates are high. In collaboration with the Family Health Bureau and Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, children who require nutritional support will be identified by medical officers and midwives at child welfare clinics. Working together, the partners will track child health standards by monitoring their progress over a one-year period. 

This contribution from France is in line with its International Strategy for Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture (2019-2024) and its recent commitments in the framework of the ‘Nutrition for Growth’ (N4G) initiative to ensure healthy, nutritional and sufficient food for all and enable populations to regain their food autonomy. 

France joins global efforts to support the WFP’s emergency operation in Sri Lanka. Launched in June, the operation aims to provide food and nutrition assistance to 3.4 million people in the coming months and nearly 900,000 people have already received cash, vouchers and food assistance to date.