The United Nations World Food Programme on Tuesday began its second phase of flood response for communities hardest-hit by the August floods.
鈥楴early 47,000 families, or approximately 2,35,000 people, in Cumilla, Feni, Moulavibazar, Noakhali and Lakshmipur districts are receiving cash assistance to aid their recovery and rebuilding efforts,鈥� said a press release of the WFP issued in Dhaka.
In this assistance, WFP is leveraging the existing government social protection systems to target around 1,06,000 women whose families were severely impacted by the August floods and who are enrolled on the Mother and Child Benefit Programme and the Vulnerable Group Development Programme, it mentioned.
Each woman will receive a one-time cash transfer of Tk 6,000 ($50) via bKash, a mobile financial service app, according to the release.
鈥楢s the floodwaters begin to recede, families will move from shelters back to their homes, but many have lost everything. While markets are slowly reopening, people still need support to access food, WFP Bangladesh country director Dom Scalpelli was quoted as saying in the release.
He said that WFP鈥檚 response was focused on helping them transition back to normalcy, while also offering livelihood opportunities to build stronger and more resilient communities.
The support was crucial for helping families meet their nutritional needs, which have been compromised by the hardships caused by the floods, the release said, adding that the WFP was ready to provide assistance to 1,20,000 more households in these districts, if more funds can be mobilised soon.
Since late August, nearly 6 million people across southeastern and northeastern regions, particularly Chattogram and Sylhet Divisions, have been affected by the worst floods Bangladesh has seen in decades.
To date, over 1,20,000 families, around 600,000 people, in Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Lakshmipur and Cox鈥檚 Bazar districts have received a one-time distribution of WFP鈥檚 fortified biscuits to meet their immediate food needs.
To aid their continued recovery and rebuilding efforts, the WFP will provide further assistance through different cash-for-work schemes.
Around 90,000 households will participate in rehabilitating or restoring essential community facilities and arable land damaged by the floods.
One able-bodied member from each family will work for 15 days and will be paid Tk 500 per day. Additionally, 15,000 vulnerable households without able-bodied members will engage in income-generating activities tailored to their needs.
The WFP said that it required a total funding of $35 million for its planned response.
