A United Nations report on Sri Lanka, which is suffering from the worst economic crisis in its history, says that there are children sleeping hungry.
According to the news agency AFP, the United Nations has warned that other South Asian countries may suffer from a similar food shortage crisis.
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George Laria Adji, the South Asia director of UNICEF, the United Nations agency for child welfare, said that ordinary Sri Lankan families have been badly affected by the crisis and are missing out on one meal because they cannot afford to buy food. are
In a conversation with journalists, UNICEF's South Asia director said that "children are sleeping hungry at night and families are unsure how to prepare and eat the next meal."
Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy due to foreign debt of 51 billion dollars. Sri Lanka is currently negotiating a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Laria Adji said that other countries in the region may face a similar food crisis.
He said that severe economic depression and inflation in South Asia could put the lives of more children at risk.
"What I saw in Sri Lanka is a warning to other countries in South Asia."
UNICEF has appealed for $25 million to meet the immediate needs of at least half of the children in Sri Lanka.
At the beginning of this month, the government also appealed for aid to deal with the rapidly spreading malnutrition among children.
According to the official data of 2021, out of 570 thousand preschool students across the country, 127 thousand were suffering from malnutrition.
Officials believe the figures are now skyrocketing due to the full impact of food shortages and rising inflation.
Former President Gotabaya Rajapakse, who was responsible for the economic crisis, resigned and fled the country last month after public protests and the storming of the government residence.
