COLOMBO, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) said on Thursday that 1.5 million people in Sri Lanka were in need of emergency food assistance amid a food shortage in the country.
In a statement, the WFP said that three out of 10 Sri Lankans faced food insecurity and pregnant and lactating women were the worst affected by the economic crisis in the South Asian country.
The WFP added that nearly 6.3 million people were food insecure and in need of assistance.
The WFP also planned to support existing social safety net programs to reach 1 million children through the National School Meals Program, the statement said.
Sri Lanka is presently facing one of its worst economic crises as the country suffers a shortage in foreign currency, which leads to a shortage in essential supplies such as fuel, medicines and even food items.
Due to the shortage in foreign currency, the import of several food items has been prohibited. ■