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¡°Australia and Sri Lanka share many decades of friendship, and this latest contribution is an extension of our goodwill during this unprecedented crisis,¡± said Paul Stephens, Australia¡¯s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. ¡°We are supporting Â鶹ÊÓƵ to provide life-saving food to people who are struggling with price increases, job losses and reduced incomes¡±. 

¡°Australia was the first to contribute to Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s emergency response, enabling us to kick-off much needed assistance to those hard-hit by the ongoing crisis,¡± said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Sri Lanka¡¯s Representative and Country Director. ¡°Through Australia¡¯s generous donation, we are providing cash and in-kind food to the most vulnerable, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and school children,¡± he added.

Sri Lanka¡¯s economic crisis has increased the level of food insecurity and recent Â鶹ÊÓƵ surveys show the situation could deteriorate further in the coming months without urgent assistance. Launched in June, Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s emergency response aims to help 3.4 million of those most at risk. 

Photo caption: Paul Stephens, Australia¡¯s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Representative and Country Director of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Sri Lanka, at the warehouse in Veyangoda where the rice is being stored until distribution.   

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The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ is the world¡¯s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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