The UN’s WFP provides early aid to 20,000 families in Bangladesh’s Sylhet Division, targeting flood-affected regions and enhancing disaster preparedness efforts.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has provided emergency assistance to over 20,000 families in the haor region of Sylhet Division, Bangladesh, in anticipation of imminent floods. The aid, delivered under the “Anticipatory Action” initiative, targets vulnerable families in the districts of Moulvibazar and Habiganj.
In a statement released on Thursday, WFP said that the decision to distribute aid was based on reliable weather forecasts predicting potential worsening flood conditions within 48 hours. The distribution of cash assistance began on the evening of April 29, with each family receiving 5,000 taka directly.
So far, more than 20,000 households have benefited from this early aid, which also includes a flood warning. Additionally, about 4,400 families enrolled in the government’s social safety programs are receiving additional urgent support.
The assistance is being carried out with funding from both WFP’s internal resources and the European Commission’s humanitarian aid department (ECHO).
Simone Parchment, WFP’s acting country director, emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures in light of increasing disaster risks due to climate change. “Through such initiatives, families can prepare by stocking food, safeguarding assets, and relocating to safer places ahead of the disaster,” she said.
Parchment also noted that early assistance can significantly reduce losses to life and property when compared to post-disaster aid.
Since 2017, WFP has been implementing such preparedness actions in collaboration with the Bangladeshi government, as the country remains one of the most vulnerable to climate risks.
