Children should be a priority in economic recovery

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) made a dire warning in a recent report noting that a significant percentage of children in Sri Lanka are at risk of severe acute malnutrition.

In a report published in August, the UN agency which has had a presence in Sri Lanka for over 50 years noted that in the wake of the economic crisis “families are skipping regular meals as staple foods become unaffordable. Children are going to bed hungry, unsure of where their next meal will come from – in a country which already has South Asia’s second highest rate of severe acute malnutrition.”

UNICEF says almost half of children in Sri Lanka already require some form of emergency assistance. “The education of 4.8 million children, already severely hampered by two years of interrupted learning, is at risk as school attendance continues to be jeopardised. Children’s education is being hindered by the current crisis in many ways—children no longer get the warm and nutritious meal that they used to have before the crisis, they lack basic stationery, and their teachers struggle with transportation.” The Health Ministry was quick to reject the UNICEF report with its Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha stating that they are not satisfied with the data used to compile the report. The Ministry claims that according to a national level survey conducted by the Medical Research Institute at the end of 2021, malnutrition among children under five years of age has in fact decreased by 13.2%. Whether the Government accepts the UNICEF report or not, there is no doubt that children are vulnerable to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. Due to high levels of inflation and currency depreciation many citizens have become poorer than they were with their savings losing value and their income losing purchasing capacity.

According to Central Bank data, consumer inflation was above 70% in the month of August. As salaries and wages have not increased corresponding to inflation, that has significantly reduced the purchasing capacity of households. Children who have little agency in deciding on priorities for household expenditure are significantly vulnerable during such difficult times.

The concerns regarding severe child malnutrition comes at a time when there have also been two years of disruptions in the education sector. All children in the country had experienced some degree of interruption to their formal education while the levels of this disruption have varied.  The prolonged closure of schools and childcare centres, the shift to online education, the limited access to routine medical services, and the isolation from friends and family has increased vulnerability and stifled opportunities for child growth and development. A study done by the World Bank in Sri Lanka found that teachers noticed behavioural changes in children where it was observed decreased activity and skill use, and increased impatience, anger, and less camaraderie among children.

While the rest of the world is well on its way towards recovery and normalisation after the COVID pandemic, Sri Lanka has been devastated by a man-made economic crisis. In this difficult time, it is imperative that the most vulnerable sections of society, especially our children, are shielded from the most severe effects. It is imperative that children are made key stakeholders in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery efforts and their needs prioritised.  

Continuity of learning, access to primary health services and protecting children against life-threatening diseases and malnutrition should be priorities. Denial of reports or sugar quoting the severity of the crisis is not a good starting point.