People in Sri Lanka are Facing Famine as a Result of a Major Crisis

In Sri Lanka, which is in a major economic crisis, the people are being dragged towards famine. People are facing famine in Sri Lanka, where people walk from work in 2.5 hours because there is no fuel, schools have to be closed, and the health sector is on the verge of collapse.

Sri Lanka is battling its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. While citizens in the country are warned against food shortages, deaths may occur in fuel queues that extend for kilometers. Increasing pressure after the hardships of the crisis led to the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on 9 May. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the new prime minister of the island country of 22 million, said that the reason for the country's economic crisis is the previous administration. Wickremesinghe, stating that there may be food shortages in the country, said, "I warn everyone to accept the seriousness of the situation." Sreeja MS, a senior reporter at India's media company NDTV, described the situation in Sri Lanka with the following words: “Rajapaksa's monopoly decisions and successive governments forced their spending to exceed the country's national income, eventually keeping Sri Lanka out of international financial markets. Despite being warned by analysts and opposition leaders to take action, Rajapaksa expected the country's economy to pick up, waiting for the tourism sector, which accounts for 5 percent of the country's GDP, to rally. Then, with tax cuts and a ban on chemical fertilizers, the country was heavily dependent on dwindling foreign reserves. All Sri Lankan citizens, rich or poor, spend at least 15-24 hours in fuel lines. The stores have run out of powdered milk, forcing many people to make do with just one meal a day.”