project munch

Sri Lanka is currently in the midst of its worst economic crisis since 1948. The rising cost of fuel and food prices combined with stagnant or reduced household incomes has affected a large proportion of the population [1]. UNICEF has estimated that more than 5.7 million people require humanitarian assistance in Sri Lanka; this includes 2.3 million children who are disproportionately affected by the current crisis, with an estimated 56,000 children suffering from extreme malnutrition [1]. 

The number of children affected are expected to rise further, with Sri Lanka already being among the top 10 countries for the number of malnourished children [1]. Levels of school absenteeism/dropout rates are also likely to rise as a result and further exacerbate inequality and poverty rates [1]. 

In response to ongoing financial hardships, 70% of Sri Lankan households are said to be reducing meal sizes, and “at least 20% of children get no breakfast and go to school [on an] empty stomach," according to the President of the Food First Information & Action Network (FIAN) [2]. 

Mullaitivu lies within the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and is home to communities which were heavily affected by the armed conflict that lasted for nearly three decades in Sri Lanka. Statistics reported by the Demographic Health Survey (2016) show that 26% of children aged 0-5 years are underweight within this region, higher than the national average of 21%. Furthermore, the issue is compounded by poor hygiene and sanitation locally which lead to increased prevalence of infections that cause sickness and diarrhoea. 

Project MUNCH (Malnourishment in Underprivileged Children) is a collaborative project between the charities iSLE and Child Aid Lanka, with support from ZDE-RDHS-Nallur Rotary. Our aim is to alleviate some of the acute burden of malnutrition within the Mullaitivu district of Sri Lanka, improve school attendance and create a lasting and sustainable change through education in nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation.

A total of £5,700 was raised to help 111 beneficiaries aged between 6 and 10 years old from two local schools (Karunaddukeny School and Thimpilly School). Each child will receive a nutritious free daily meal for the entirety of the 2022/2023 academic year, accessible via their school canteen. Additionally, project MUNCH is designed to have a lasting impact via:

1. Providing training for teachers & parents on proper nutrition, hygiene and sanitation.

2. Demonstrations of nutritional food preparation for parents.

3. Promoting hygiene practices among the children.

The project commenced in September 2022 and remains ongoing. Please visit this page regularly for more updates on this and other projects. 

Sources

1. https://www.unicef.org/media/126106/file/ROSA-Humanitarian-SitRep-30-June-2022.pdf

2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63868497