ASIA/SRI LANKA - Food security at risk in the north of the Country

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - Food security remains very precarious in the northern part of Sri Lanka. According to the latest information from the World Food Programme (WFP), the majority of the 1,755 families monitored in five districts, including that of Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Killinochi and Mannar, spends more than 65% of income on food. Despite the good dietary intake of the people, difficulties are foreseen for the maintenance of average nutrition due to low incomes, a slower recovery than expected and a reduction of livestock for sustenance. The study was conducted on emergency food from 7 October to 5 November by the WFP with the Medical Research Institute and UNICEF, as well as a similar one conducted in March 2010. After the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May 2009, over 300,000 displaced people have been relocated to the north of the Country. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 15/12/2010)