2000 tons of WFP rice for flood victims
Unb, Dhaka
The World Food Programme (WFP) will soon start distributing 2000 tons of rice to flood victims as initial response to the need for emergency relief of flood-affected people of Bangladesh, reeling from severe flooding following catastrophic rains in the region."As we go along with the emergency, responding to the need of flood victims, the World Food Programme will start rice distribution after this week," WFP Resident Representative Douglas Broderick told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday.Asked about the quantity of rice to be distributed by the UN food agency, he said initially, about 1500 to 2000 tons of rice would be distributed. And, " hopefully, we will be able to increase that." He thanked Australia, Canada and Germany for extending cooperation to WFP by committing food for Bangladesh. Asked if the WFP fears food shortages in the wake of loss of standing crops by floods, Broderick said, "Obviously, we are quite concerned and looking at the issue." He observed that when the livelihood is wiped out, small farms destroyed and croplands flooded significantly, it is a mater of concern. According to official statistics, standing crops on about 12,00,000 acres of land were completely or partially damaged by the current monsoon floods. "It is an important concern for us and for the government of Bangladesh," the WFP representative said, adding that they want to look into the extent of total damage.
|
|
