Where are the starving people?-By Dr harold Gunatillake
UNICEF estimates that approximately 56,000 children in the country suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
Around a third of Sri Lankan households do not have a secure food source, and almost 70% are reducing meal sizes, according to the latest World Food Program figures.
According to the World Food Programme, 6 .3 million people, or over 30 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population is “food insecure” and require humanitarian assistance.
According to UNO -India, there are nearly 195 million undernourished people in India, which is a quarter of the world’s hunger burden. Also, roughly 43% of
children in India are chronically undernourished. India ranks 68 out of 113 major countries in terms of food
security index 2022.
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Friday night, we were invited to a variety show in Getambe, Kandy, at the Oak-Ray Regency grounds, performed by the local artists from Colombo. To my surprise, I found over 1,500 young and old, girls and boys, gyrating away for loud, fast music with intoxicating stage lighting.
I then wondered where the starving people the media talks about. This show was in Getambe at Oak-Ray Regency, a suburb in Kandy but not a very affluent area.
They were all happy, somewhat intoxicated, well-fed youth having great fun.
I was so happy for them to see such scenarios when the mass media and the world talked about poverty in Sri Lanka.
According to the World Food Programme, 6.3 million people, or over 30 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population, is “food insecure”
and require humanitarian assistance. According to UNO -India, there are nearly 195 million undernourished people in India, which is a quarter of the world’s hunger burden. Also, roughly 43% of children in India are chronically undernourished. India ranks 68 out of 113 major countries in terms of the food security index 2022.
As a food-insecure country, Sri Lanka is not singled out; it is a global issue.
These events are organised by Sujeewa Palliaguruge, Chairman of the Oak-Ray group, and this happens to be the 7th monthly event.
Now, let’s share some fun with the young people in Kandy suburbia.
I hope you understand the situation in Sri Lanka today. Some overseas thought is that rich people should show restraint in spending as the rest cannot afford a single meal a day.
Fortunately, the affluent class spend their money in expensive restaurants and 5-star hotels, creating jobs for people, and that money will spread to the food industry to create more employment.
There is more than enough food produced in the world to feed everyone on the planet. Yet as many as 828 million people still go hungry.
I hope you enjoyed the video as much as we did at the event. Stay safe, and goodbye for now.
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