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Thursday, December 30, 2010 - 04.24 GMT |
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Food security in North improves - WFP |
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The food security situation in northern Sri Lanka has improved compared to what it was in March 2010, the World Food Programme (WFP) said, adding the next four months will be crucial.
WFP Sri Lanka further said the food consumption score for the vast majority of returnees falls in the acceptable range.
They added that despite these improvements, however, the food security situation remains fragile as food assistance is the main source of basic food for returnees who are under resettlement, and they continue to spend a considerable proportion of their income on other complimentary food. The period from January to April remains critical, as the harvest from the main agricultural season Maha only becomes available in April.
With reference to what needed to be done to improve the conditions, the WFP Sri Lanka said the food security situation in Sri Lanka will gradually improve as livelihoods are regained and more arable lands are made available through de-mining. After the harvest period in April it is also foreseen that the food security situation will improve.
On December 15, IRIN, a “humanitarian news and analysis service” of the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, asserted that the food security in northern Sri Lanka remained fragile. Of 1,755 households surveyed in five districts — including Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Killinochi and Mannar — the majority spend more than 65 per cent of their income on food. Though dietary intake of returnees was remarkably good, maintaining that over time will prove difficult given low income levels, a slower-than-expected livelihood recovery and widespread asset and livestock depletion, said IRIN, quoting the agency. The emergency food security and nutrition study was conducted from October 7 to November 5 by WFP with the Medical Research Institute and U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Referring to this report, WFP Sri Lanka said the information quoted in the IRIN article are very preliminary findings.
The report had not been finalized and it was “still in draft and is currently under review by the participating agencies (the Sri Lankan government, UNICEF and WFP), WFP said.
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