IFRC launches Emergency appeal for 28 Mn Swiss Francs for Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st);The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) has launched an Emergency Appeal for 28 million Swiss francs to provide immediate critical relief and for longer recovery efforts for an estimated 500,000 people in Sri Lanka. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka is spiralling into a humanitarian emergency as millions of people face acute shortages of food, fuel, cooking gas and medicine, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) warned. “The situation has taken a devastating turn for people already struggling to put food on the table during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s even worse for single parent households, those without steady work and those already suffering a loss of income," Sri Lanka Red Cross Secretary General, Mahesh Gunasekara said. “We hold grave concerns for the most vulnerable communities across the country – some 2.4 million people already living below the poverty line who are most affected by the loss of livelihoods, food shortages, and the spiraling cost of essential items," said IFRC Head of South Asia Delegation, Udaya Regmi. “The emergency appeal that we have launched in support of Sri Lanka Red Cross will protect the livelihoods and safety of thousands of households in need of support," he added.