Emergency Response Programme: Meal Enrichment in Safety Centers – Nuwara Eliya & Badulla Districts

1. Context & Programme Overview

In the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, hundreds of families across the central highlands and Uva province were displaced and accommodated in temporary Safety Centres. Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under five years of age were among the most vulnerable, facing immediate risks of acute nutritional deterioration due to disruption of routine food supplies and reliance on basic emergency grain rations.

Recognizing the critical importance of early nutritional protection to safeguard child development and maternal health, Scaling Up Nutrition People’s Forum (SUN PF), with generous funding and technical guidance from UNICEF, launched the Meal Enrichment Programme in Safety Centers across Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts under Phase II of the Emergency Recovery Programme.

Enriched balanced meals prepared with fresh greens, vegetables, protein sources, and eggs distributed in stainless steel dinner sets to ensure hygiene and dignified feeding.

2. Target Beneficiary Identification & Selected Centres

To ensure transparency and maximum impact, the Nuwara Eliya and Badulla District Secretariats were engaged from the inception. Safety Centres identified to remain operational for an extended recovery duration were selected in consultation with Divisional Secretaries, prioritizing locations with high concentrations of pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, and children under 5 years.

3. Operational Arrangements & Field Coordination

Field management was decentralized to the District SUN CSO Coordinating Organization, which appointed dedicated Field Coordinators for each designated Safety Centre. Comprehensive virtual training sessions were conducted prior to implementation, focusing on:

• Specific micronutrient & macronutrient needs of pregnant/lactating mothers and under-5 children.
• National Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) adapted for emergency settings.
• Stringent food safety, hygiene, and safe water sanitary protocols.
• Operational procedures for local ingredient procurement and monitoring.

4. Nutritional Recipes Developed (8-Day Cyclic Menu)

Meals were scientifically formulated to bridge common micronutrient gaps—especially Iron, Vitamin A, Calcium, and high-biological-value protein:

5. Active Community Participation & SBCC Integration

Rather than passively receiving aid, mothers and caregivers were directly engaged in safety-centre kitchens. This created an invaluable opportunity to conduct Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC):

6. Dry Ration Pack Distributions (Badulla District)

To ensure ongoing food security once families transitioned from immediate congregate cooking, 280 beneficiaries received comprehensive monthly food baskets for 3 consecutive months through the Badulla District SUN CSO Network:

📸 Programme Gallery & Field Moments

Mothers and children gathered in the tea estate areas to receive monthly ration packs.

Young children enjoying fresh hot meals enriched with eggs and green leaves at child-friendly tables.

Fresh highland vegetables and fruits directly procured from local farmer networks to support local recovery.

High-protein food pack contents carefully assembled with fresh eggs, Yahaposha cereal, pulses, and oil.

Field Coordinators conducting direct, dignified handovers to nursing mothers.

Children in Passara holding nutrient-packed fruit and egg portions provided by the programme.