The UN warns about the fate of Sri Lanka which could soon suffer from a major food crisis. The heavily indebted country has indeed been in default of payment for several weeks and can no longer import essential products such as hydrocarbons or a lot of food. For the population, for months, it is therefore the daily struggle and rationing.
With our special correspondent Colombo, Sebastien Farcis
More than a hundred blue gas canisters are lined up on the side of the road, fastened together by large padlocks. But this store in Colombo, in charge of filling them, has drawn the curtain. Mohammed Amurdin, 63, is in despair. “We’ve been waiting here for five days, but there’s no gas. I arrive at 5am to keep my bottle and at night I have to pay someone to keep it. In the meantime, we cook with wood or eat outside, which is more expensive. »
The price of this gas has also doubled over the past three months, like that of many imported foods, from milk to wheat. This inflation forces the modest household of Malathy Arulkumar to ration its food. ” Before, we used four vegetables for the meal, now we only eat two. I also buy almost half as much rice and very little chicken, and no milk at all. »
The UN estimates that nearly 2 million Sri Lankans are in a critical humanitarian situation and calls for the sending of 44 million euros in emergency aid, to provide them with food and medicine.
►Also read: Sri Lanka: the shortage of gasoline and especially medicines worries the UN