Food Relief for Vulnerable Population in Sri Lanka
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Appeal for COVID-19 Food Relief Support in the war-affected Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka.
The Corona-virus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused severe hardship to everyone globally.
People in developing countries are facing greater struggles comparatively. In particular, the war-affected Tamil population in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka are facing the worst challenges for their survival due to the economic downfall, and the nationwide lock-down to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Based on livelihood and income generation, Tamil people in the North and East of Sri Lanka can be classified into the following five categories.
1) Civil servants
2) Farmers
3) Fishermen
4) Samurdhi support recipients
5) Daily wage earners
During the strictly enforced lock-down (daily curfew) to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, the people in the first four categories are still able to manage with their basic needs. However, daily wage earners are unable to make ends meet. They rely on daily wages for even their basic needs such as their daily meals. Government aid hasn't reached this segment of the population yet.
The Tamil population in the North and East of Sri Lanka have a higher number of women-headed households and people with disabilities due to the war. They also have greater unemployment, poverty and malnourishment, which also makes them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 outbreak.
As a result of no means for income and little or no support from the government, this segment of the vulnerable population is at the brink of starvation. The strictly enforced hard lock-down and curfew in Sri Lanka is projected to continue for several more weeks and the suffering of these people without their daily income will compound in the coming days.
What is the Canadian Tamil Congress doing?
Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) is initiating a food relief effort for the most vulnerable Tamil population in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka with the help of North and East Economic Development Centre on the ground.
How will the recipients be identified?
Families in need will be identified with the help of Grama Sevakas and Divisional Secretaries, ensuring accuracy and avoiding any duplication of aid.
What will the recipients receive as aid?
Each of the identified families will receive a dry rations package valued around Sri Lankan Rupees 1,000 consisting of 5 kg rice, 3 kg flour, 1 kg lentils, 1kg sugar and 2 bars of soap. This basic food package will be sufficient to feed an average family for one week.
Where will the service be delivered?
The COVID-19 food relief will be delivered in all eight districts of the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka for the most vulnerable families facing starvation. With your generosity and aid, we are hoping to extend this support to all remaining eight districts in the coming days and weeks. The districts receiving the food relief are as follows:
- Vavuniya district
- Trincomalee district
- Mullaitivu district
- Kilinochchi district
- Amparai district
- Batticaloa district
- Mannar District
- Jaffna District
How will this be delivered?
The Canadian Tamil Congress has partnered with the North and East Economic Development (NEED) Centre in Sri Lanka to deliver on this food relief in the North and East of Sri Lanka. (https://www.needcentre.org/)
The North and East Economic Development Centre will be implementing the food relief in five of the eight districts in the North and East of Sri Lanka directly, while in the other three districts it will facilitate the food relief with three local district organizations.
The Canadian Tamil Congress will transfer all the funds raised through this gofundme fundraiser from its bank account to the North and East Economic Development Centre's bank account in Sri Lanka to implement this food distribution there.
The distribution will be done with the support and advice from local government authorities including village and district administrators.
Regular updates on CTC's food relief efforts in Sri Lanka will be posted in the following website:
http://www.canadiantamilcongress.ca/covid19-food-relief-north-east-srilanka/
How can you help?
Your every $7.50 donation will help feed one vulnerable Tamil family for one week. Thank you for your generosity.
The Corona-virus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused severe hardship to everyone globally.
People in developing countries are facing greater struggles comparatively. In particular, the war-affected Tamil population in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka are facing the worst challenges for their survival due to the economic downfall, and the nationwide lock-down to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Based on livelihood and income generation, Tamil people in the North and East of Sri Lanka can be classified into the following five categories.
1) Civil servants
2) Farmers
3) Fishermen
4) Samurdhi support recipients
5) Daily wage earners
During the strictly enforced lock-down (daily curfew) to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, the people in the first four categories are still able to manage with their basic needs. However, daily wage earners are unable to make ends meet. They rely on daily wages for even their basic needs such as their daily meals. Government aid hasn't reached this segment of the population yet.
The Tamil population in the North and East of Sri Lanka have a higher number of women-headed households and people with disabilities due to the war. They also have greater unemployment, poverty and malnourishment, which also makes them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 outbreak.
As a result of no means for income and little or no support from the government, this segment of the vulnerable population is at the brink of starvation. The strictly enforced hard lock-down and curfew in Sri Lanka is projected to continue for several more weeks and the suffering of these people without their daily income will compound in the coming days.
What is the Canadian Tamil Congress doing?
Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) is initiating a food relief effort for the most vulnerable Tamil population in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka with the help of North and East Economic Development Centre on the ground.
How will the recipients be identified?
Families in need will be identified with the help of Grama Sevakas and Divisional Secretaries, ensuring accuracy and avoiding any duplication of aid.
What will the recipients receive as aid?
Each of the identified families will receive a dry rations package valued around Sri Lankan Rupees 1,000 consisting of 5 kg rice, 3 kg flour, 1 kg lentils, 1kg sugar and 2 bars of soap. This basic food package will be sufficient to feed an average family for one week.
Where will the service be delivered?
The COVID-19 food relief will be delivered in all eight districts of the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka for the most vulnerable families facing starvation. With your generosity and aid, we are hoping to extend this support to all remaining eight districts in the coming days and weeks. The districts receiving the food relief are as follows:
- Vavuniya district
- Trincomalee district
- Mullaitivu district
- Kilinochchi district
- Amparai district
- Batticaloa district
- Mannar District
- Jaffna District
How will this be delivered?
The Canadian Tamil Congress has partnered with the North and East Economic Development (NEED) Centre in Sri Lanka to deliver on this food relief in the North and East of Sri Lanka. (https://www.needcentre.org/)
The North and East Economic Development Centre will be implementing the food relief in five of the eight districts in the North and East of Sri Lanka directly, while in the other three districts it will facilitate the food relief with three local district organizations.
The Canadian Tamil Congress will transfer all the funds raised through this gofundme fundraiser from its bank account to the North and East Economic Development Centre's bank account in Sri Lanka to implement this food distribution there.
The distribution will be done with the support and advice from local government authorities including village and district administrators.
Regular updates on CTC's food relief efforts in Sri Lanka will be posted in the following website:
http://www.canadiantamilcongress.ca/covid19-food-relief-north-east-srilanka/
How can you help?
Your every $7.50 donation will help feed one vulnerable Tamil family for one week. Thank you for your generosity.
Organizer
Canadian Tamil Congress - CTC
Organizer
Scarborough, ON