The United Nations World Food Programme has launched its response to the severe flooding emergency in Bangladesh.
In collaboration with national NGO partners, the WFP is on the ground delivering immediate relief to the communities hit hardest, said a WFP press release on Thursday.
The press release also said that the flood in Bangladesh has affected over five million people across the southeastern and northeastern regions, particularly in the Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.
Starting on August 26, the WFP has joined a rapid assessment mission led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator鈥檚 Office.
Some 300,000 people of 60,000 families are receiving fortified biscuits to address their urgent food needs, the release said.
Distributions had already begun in Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali, and Moulvibazar, and would soon start in Lakshmipur and Cox鈥檚 Bazar districts, it said.
鈥榃e started our response addressing the immediate food needs of affected communities, in support of government-led relief efforts,鈥� said Simone Parchment, the WFP representative in Bangladesh.
The press release also mentioned that amid the flooding, which has been worsening since August 20, extensive damage to infrastructure has also left many communities stranded and without access to essential services.
Based on the needs identified, the WFP stands ready to scale up its response and is preparing to launch cash-for-work schemes aimed at rebuilding critical infrastructure such as water management systems, roads, and embankments, it added.
