As Sri Lanka descends further into its worst economic and political crisis in 70 years it is children who are suffering the most. (Forbes 07/07/2022). Nearly half of all the children in Sri Lanka require some form of humanitarian assistance, according to UNICEF’s appeal for support. Even before the current crisis, Sri Lanka had the world’s seventh highest child malnutrition rates and was second in South Asia for child wasting under the age 5. Two in five babies were not being fed the minimum acceptable diet.

If this is the national average, it is unfathomable to think what would be the child malnutrition rate in the marginalized population. Multiple studies have shown that malnutrition during the preschool years interferes with intellectual development and earning capacity in the later years of life. Since January of this year the government has stopped the nutritional support of Rs. 30/day given to the children.

IMHO USA is currently supporting a total of 5367 students (3017 in the Northern, 423 in the Eastern and 1935 in the Central Provinces) with one meal a day when they are in school costing around $1000/a day. IMHO is appealing for and accepting donations to carry on this most important project.

With very many thanks,

The IMHO USA.