COLOMBO – The US government announced a third tranche of new funding on Tuesday (21) to address the immediate needs of people hardest hit by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. The humanitarian assistance totalling US$ 5.75 million, will provide cash assistance, short-term jobs, and agriculture supplies such as seeds directly to crisis-affected people to meet their basic needs.
The new grant funding through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) builds on last week’s announcement of US$ 6M in grants through USAID and $120 M in new loans through the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to meet the needs of Sri Lankans during the economic crisis.
“The recent United Nations appeal to international donors warned of an ‘unfolding multidimensional food security crisis’ in Sri Lanka,” said US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, explaining that the new assistance announced on Tuesday will address some of those complex issues. “We are working hard to ensure these funds directly reach the Sri Lankans who have been most severely affected by this crisis,” she added.
The funding announced on Tuesday will also support microenterprises in communities that traditionally experience high poverty rates and are especially impacted by the crisis. In addition, it will provide for community-based disaster management committees to help prepare for, respond to, and ultimately recover from crises.
Over the coming months, the United States plans to add to its significant ongoing investments and assistance projects in Sri Lanka that help the people of Sri Lanka meet their immediate and long-term needs. These efforts build on six decades and over $2 billion of foreign assistance from the American people that have strengthened tourism, small businesses, renewable energy, climate adaptation, and civil society in Sri Lanka.
-ENCL