400,000 children are without enough food in Sri Lanka due to Floods

Over 400,000 children in Sri Lanka are facing a food crisis as a result of devastating floods since January 10th. The floods which came in two waves in January and February affected Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara districts. Over 1 million people have become displaced due to torental rain and agriculture and domastic economy has been devastated. The people who return to homes from temparory shelters are faced with food shortage and their homes, schools, crops and livelihoods have been wiped out by the rains.

The worst hit is Batticaloa district in Eastern province. The january rain flooded 90% of the district and damaged their agriculture and live stock. The sources say ove 1 million people, including 400,000 children are without enough food. The agricultural ministry says that 21% of the country's rice crop had been destroyed by rain. However this could be much more considering impact of rain in other areas and vegitable and fruit cultivation.

The rains could worse effect on local economy as much of the unaccounted domastic rice stocks have been destroyed. A mother from Kathankudi said that they have lost 50Kg rice pack stored in home. The stocks in rice mills that have been destroyed is yet un accounted. 

This devastation is only second to 2004 tsunami which killed 400,000 people and left 2.5 million homeless.This floods is an enormous setback for a country which is only just beginning to recover from the 3 decades-long war. The experts say that there could be a food crysis in the coming weeks in flooded areas.

At least 250,000 acres of agricultural land and more than 240,000 livestoclek, and 80% of rice crop are considered to have been lost in the eastern part of Sri Lanka, which produces 25% of the rice to the people. As their harvest and lively hood have been washed away by rains, the people need support to repair their irrigation, roads and need to survive until next harvest. A health experts said that "children could face a major risk from food crisis and water born deceases leading to severe malnutrition problem".

Thae damages to agriculture also impact poor families who lost their daily labour work in agriculture works. Until landowners cultivate again, they can't find work. As a result the children would drop school and possibly forced in to child labour says a children welfare organization.

The UN assistant secretary general for humanitarian affairs, Catherine Bragg, launched an appeal for flood victims "who were desperately vulnerable to begin with" after visiting the east.