More

    Red Cross Fund Document Takes Note of Civil Unrest in Sri Lanka

    GovernanceAccountabilityRed Cross Fund Document Takes Note of Civil Unrest...
    - Advertisment -

    Red Cross Fund Document Takes Note of Civil Unrest in Sri Lanka

    The Red Cross aid document has called this a fund for civil unrest – though the grant document alludes to the unrest being a civil society protest. The document says that the social and economic context is highly volatile in Sri Lanka.

    The European Union (EU) will provide 200,000 Euros in humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka to support vulnerable families affected by the country’s ongoing economic crisis, the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka and Maldives said.

    The fund will give priority to pregnant women, children, people with disabilities, women-headed households and people who have become vulnerable due to the crisis, a statement from the EU Delegation said.

    “The current political and economic crisis has resulted in shortages of essential commodities, including of medicines, and has reduced the ability of thousands of families to cater for their basic needs,” the delegation said.

    - Advertisement -

    “Many children have also seen their education disrupted due to power cuts and lack of stationery items.”

    Red Cross IFRC disaster relief emergency funds Sri Lanka

    Red Cross Fund

    The funding complements a Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) provided by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

    A DREF grant is a soft aid, not necessarily refundable, was released mid-April. The amount of CHF 691,002 released by IFRC works out to approximately 25 crore Sri Lankan Rupees (or 5.4 crore Indian Rupees) and will assist 400,000 people or about 80,000 families in all districts across Sri Lanka. 4,000 families will be provided with cash grants to the tune of CHF 65 to fulfil their basic needs within a month of providing the grant.

    The DREF grant also allocates CHF 10,000 for consultants from the total grant money. A small amount of CHF 4,555 has also been kept aside for meeting the needs of volunteers.

    The work to make this DREF grant operational on the ground will be carried out by the Sri Lana Red Cross Society (SLRCS).

    “In this scenario of an impending humanitarian catastrophe where the vulnerable are made more destitute and helpless, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society intends to intervene to mitigate suffering,” SLRCS says.

    There is scope for DREF grants to be followed by an Appeal for aid in cash, kind and services. It is not clear, however, if an appeal will be launched because major donors are prioritising the crisis in Ukraine.

    IFRC Red Cross disaster relief emergency fund Sri Lanka protest civil unrest

     

    Civil unrest. Volatile

    The Red Cross DREF document has called this a fund for civil unrest – though the grant document alludes to the unrest being a civil society protest, a wording necessitated by the Red Cross’ apolitical nature.

    “A major civil society protest was organized in Colombo in front of the Presidential Secretariat, demanding the President’s resignation,” the document says, adding that “The social and economic context is highly volatile within the country.”

    Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis in its 74-year post-Independence history with commodity prices sky-rocketing.

    - Advertisement -

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Latest news

    Sri Lanka’s Elephant Corridor Plan ‘Unscientific’

    Nearly 5,000 elephants and 1,600 people have been killed in the last 15 years in clashes between elephants and humans in Sri Lanka, home to one of the largest remaining populations of Asian elephants, according to official figures.

    New Projections Show Extreme Glacier Loss Already at 2°C

    Staying close to 1.5°C on the other hand preserves at least some glacier ice in all regions, even Scandinavia, with 20-30 per cent remaining in the four most sensitive regions; and 40-45 per cent in the Himalayas and Caucuses; stressing the growing urgency of the 1.5°C temperature goal and rapid decarbonization to achieve it.

    Government Extends Interest Relief for Farmers, Reinforces KCC and MISS as Pillars of Agricultural Credit

    Through the KCC framework, farmers benefit from revolving credit facilities for up to five years. This flexible structure allows them to draw and repay funds as per their seasonal requirements without having to reapply for loans each season.

    Legal Battle Brews Over Rampant Illegal Sand Mining in Meghna River

    The massive profits coupled with a weak legal framework have drawn influential individuals with political connections into the sand mining business, making it dangerous for environmental activists and journalists to speak out.
    - Advertisement -

    Yunus Warns of ‘War-Like Situation’ Amid Political Crisis and Rising Tensions

    The high-stakes meeting brought together 20 leaders from various political parties and organisations in two separate sessions, as Yunus sought to shore up support amid reports of internal tensions within his interim government and growing external pressure.

    Vice President Calls for Direct Subsidies and Agri-Entrepreneurship at Madhya Pradesh Conclave

    He urged agro-based industries, NGOs, MPs, and MLAs to adopt villages and help build agri-entrepreneurial ecosystems.

    Must read

    Sri Lanka’s Elephant Corridor Plan ‘Unscientific’

    Nearly 5,000 elephants and 1,600 people have been killed in the last 15 years in clashes between elephants and humans in Sri Lanka, home to one of the largest remaining populations of Asian elephants, according to official figures.

    New Projections Show Extreme Glacier Loss Already at 2°C

    Staying close to 1.5°C on the other hand preserves at least some glacier ice in all regions, even Scandinavia, with 20-30 per cent remaining in the four most sensitive regions; and 40-45 per cent in the Himalayas and Caucuses; stressing the growing urgency of the 1.5°C temperature goal and rapid decarbonization to achieve it.
    - Advertisement -

    More from the sectionRELATED
    Recommended to you