Strict action will also be taken against any party found engaging in illegal activities related to rice.

Fears of a fresh banking crisis have led investors to sell out of risk assets such as commodities with oil prices falling to near US$70 per barrel from near an all-time high of US$139 in March 2022.

The research found that half the deaths were children younger than 5, and that the crisis could prove worse than Somalia's last major drought in 2017 and 2018.

The power price increase is the latest measure to clinch a loan to tackle a crisis that evolved from the confluence of the pandemic battering its tourism-reliant economy, rising oil prices and populist tax cuts.

Despite the wild weather having eased, major flood warnings remain across wide swaths of southeast after the region received more than a month's total rainfall over two days last week.

Market research released shows that grocery inflation hit another new record of 13.9% in September, deepening the cost-of-living crisis, while data shows people are investing in items to help them save cash.

Russian President Vladimir Putin added to the energy price pain, sending oil and gas prices higher by announcing a partial military mobilisation.

European governments have responded with measures ranging from capping consumer electricity and gas prices to offering credit and guarantees to power providers at risk of collapse.

European governments have already ploughed hundreds of billions of euros into tax cuts, handouts and subsidies as they attempt to contain an energy crisis.

Several countries are providing billions in support to energy distributors exposed to wild swings in prices that are forcing them to cough up huge collateral for supplies.

Some parents find it hard to scrape together the fares for children's trips to school, while others cannot afford to buy them even simple treats, such as ice-cream or sweets.

Data from Sri Lanka's navy shows almost 1,000 people, many of them children, have been intercepted in Sri Lankan waters attempting to flee the country in the last three months.