As a follow up to my last post just 2 weeks ago, I realise I can’t wait any longer to flag again, and this time more graphically, the seriousness of the situation in Sri Lanka. And what’s as shocking as anything is that hardly anyone is reporting on it. If you do a Google search of BBC news on Sri Lanka, you will see there’s been no reporting since 30th April in spite of reporters then acknowledging the country is ‘grappling with its worst economic crisis since independence more than 70 years ago.’ It talks about an ‘unfolding crisis’ so why nothing else reported since then? When I mention the problems in Sri Lanka to people who are by nature well-informed, they have no idea. Or they may have heard something a few months ago but only as a vague recollection of a one off news report. For a British Commonwealth country and ex-British colony I’m left wondering why the media apparently lacks interest in following up on this humanitarian crisis?

Here are some facts:

• ‘Crisis like no other’ and worse than Sudan, Yemen and Somalia said UNICEF spokesperson, Bismark Swangin (video above)
• People being asked to take a day off work each week to grow crops in their back yard
• Children going hungry and having to skip meals
• Sri Lanka already has one of the highest malnutrition rates in SE Asia
• Many thousands of children cannot now access basic necessities of life such as nutritious food, healthcare or education
• 25 essential medicines were identified at the end of April this year as being critically needed by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health
• Children cannot get to school due to lack of fuel and even if they can get there on foot they can no longer access a free meal; a major incentive to get them attending school
• Massive water reduction due to water pumps not working due to lack of fuel
• Daily power cuts of up to 15 hours a day
• Empty supermarket shelves with people panic buying and rumours of wholesalers holding onto stocks and then inflating the prices
• People selling or pawning their belongings or borrowing in desperation as nowhere for people to go
• 7/10 families having to cut down on food and quality of food
• Fuel has all but run out and the main form of transport is becoming the bicycle!

What is being done at a bigger level by Their Future Today?

• In contact with the BBC in Colombo, the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and the Director of Public Health in Colombo
• Lobbying airfreight and shipping agents for support with transportation of essential items
• Seeking support from pharmaceutical companies in the UK and India to send urgent and life saving medication and supplies legally and as inexpensively as possible and most importantly, urgently

Some of what is being done at a local level?

• TFT food parcels are being distributed to poor families supported by UK donations
• TFT supporting children living in orphanages with food, medicine and other essentials
• Women’s Development Centre (WDC) and The Heartbeat Centre refuges continue to house and look after up to 80 women and girls suffering from gender-based violence – food, expenses, legal, medical and health support funded by UK donations

What can we do?

• Do you or anyone you know have any links with pharmaceutical companies who could donate and get critical medical supplies sent to the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka? If so please get in touch ASAP
• Do you or anyone you know have any links with transport/logistic companies that could help with shipping/flying out donations of medication, bicycles, dried food such as rice, lentils, powdered milk and nappies? If so please get in touch ASAP
• Just donate through my JustGiving site where I’ll ensure all donations go to support the women/girls in the refuges, pay for nutritious food parcels and distribute them to targeted groups in need including orphanages

Further sponsorship – If you’d like to help those who need help in Sri Lanka at this incredibly troubled time, whilst being assured that every penny will go to those who need it, then please donate by clicking on this link Marcia Summers is fundraising for Their Future Today (justgiving.com). Don’t forget that if you’re a tax payer to declare ‘gift aid’ when doing so which will increase your donation by 25% at no cost to you. Alternatively, if you know anyone or of an organisation that may have an interest in this cause please forward this blog and above link on to them.

If you missed the last blog then here it is.