DHAKA, Tuesday, 01 July, 2008 - WFP continues to make progress in serving victims and has dispatched required food to feed over 2.3 million people in the affected areas since the devastating cyclone Sidr that pushed through coastal Bangladesh late last year.
With the generous support of various donors, WFP delivered over 63,300 tonnes of emergency food assistance to the hungry, homeless and vulnerable people during the emergency operations
WFP's field monitor's report shows that food still remains the most urgent priority for many families in cyclone affected areas who are expecting their Aman harvest in November/December 2008. Households are lacking food reserves or sufficient income to pay for food in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr.
'Food insecurity coupled with rising food prices, and high and increasing malnutrition rates all point to the need for a continuing relief assistance in worst affected areas until the fresh Aman harvest in November/December,' said Edward Kallon, WFP Bangladesh Country Director, a.i. 'With the generous support of various donors, WFP delivered over 63,300 tonnes of emergency food assistance to the hungry, homeless and vulnerable people during the emergency operations,'
WFP recently completed its seventh rounds of general food distribution which started on 31 May 2008. Through its seventh round distribution, over 1,502,000 beneficiaries received 12,000 tones of food assistance to meet their immediate food needs. WFP, in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and number of pre-qualified NGO partners, is providing food rations consisting of rice, pulses, edible oil, blended food, salt and high energy biscuits.
'With the active cooperation from our GoB and NGO partners we have successfully completed seventh round food distribution despite numerous challenges we face including unforgiving rainy season, maintaining quality consignments and delays in food lifting,' said Mr. Kallon, while appreciating the role of the local government officials and NGO partners. Contributors to the WFP emergency operation in Bangladesh include the Australia, Canada, European Commission (ECHO), Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, private donors, Republic of Korea, Spain, USA, USDA, private donors and UN CERF.
Cyclone Sidr severely affected 9 million people and claimed 3,347 lives. Assisted by helicopters of the Bangladesh Air Force, WFP biscuits and rice reached the most vulnerable people devastated by the disaster within hours of the storm's passing.