DHAKA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has provided emergency food assistance to more than 150,000 people in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, a week after the area was inundated by flash floods.
WFP, in partnership with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and the Australian Government, has used dozens of boats and trucks to deliver over 100 metric tons of emergency food supplies to the four worst-affected areas of Chakaria, Pekua, Cox’s Badar Sadar and Ramu.
Many of those receiving assistance, which consists of vitamin and mineral-fortified high energy biscuits, have lost their homes, businesses, farms and livelihoods. They are now vulnerable to food insecurity and worsening poverty.
“Flash floods and landslides made the distribution of food very challenging but even remote areas were reached within a matter of hours,” said Christa Räder, WFP Representative in Bangladesh, noting that WFP’s operation appropriately complemented the Government’s emergency response.……