LOLC on a humanitarian project of Rs.500mn – The Island

The unprecedented economic crisis in Sri Lanka is further deepening, unfolding a humanitarian emergency, attacking societies at their core, seizing people’s livelihoods. The crippling civil unrest is now being triggered by the economic crisis which is compounding the potential longer-term effects on local household incomes and food security.

Responding instantly to the urgency of the crisis, LOLC launched LOLC Divi Savya, an island-wide humanitarian effort in early May this year. The first phase of this project supported units of needy households covering the 25 districts of the country over a period of one month. It has also allowed LOLC to learn more about the millions of people across the country, who are already below the poverty line and facing major disruptions from loss of livelihoods, food scarcity and poverty. increase in the cost of essential items. During this initial campaign, the number of divisional secretariats with high demands was marked while a number of untapped vulnerable segments were also identified.

This time, committing to a continuous and broader effort, LOLC has renewed its forces for another season of Divi Savya started in July 2022 and will cover all 25 districts over a period of 3 months in 3 different cycles, returned to -return . The Divi Savya Phase Two roadmap recognizes the importance of cushioning the ripple effects on people’s lives at this critical stage while considering a longer recovery effort.

Identifying the sharp decline in food security for the country’s most vulnerable segments, the second phase of Divi Saviya focuses on organizing the direct provision of food resources to support homes for the elderly, children’s facilities and visually impaired units in addition to selected households. It is estimated that the immediate critical relief will distribute a total number of 125,000 parcels worth Rs 500 million. Each parcel will contain the staple foods and dry rations weighing 10 kilograms, including items ranging from rice, flour, dhal, sugar, noodles, tea, salt, soy meat to spices.

The whole project is strengthened by the partnership between LOLC and News First to stabilize the clarity and transparency of the distribution network. The program is organized by the division secretariats, with the support of the provisional correspondents of News First to bring together the poorest families who are eligible for the Divi Saviya program.