Brac to provide food support to 50,000 families

The country's leading development organisation Brac has come forward with an initiative to provide emergency food assistance to 50,000 families in distress, from salaries of its employees and the organisation's funds.

The largest non-government organisation in the world raised Tk 7.5 crore from its employees' one-day salary, and same amount has been provided by Brac itself to make it happen, a press release by Brac said.

Families of 19 districts which have been severely affected by Covid-19 will get priority in the campaign. The support includes food for two weeks and Tk 1,500 for buying other essentials.

The assistance will be handed over to the families from July 18.

Women, physically challenged, ultra-poor, breast-feeding mothers, elderly people will be prioritised for this assistance, the press release said.

Tasnim Jara, a public health expert popular for her instrumental videos on social media lend her hand to the initiative, calling upon others to join the cause titled "Dakche Abar Desh".

Asif Saleh, executive director of Brac, said, "The fight against Covid-19 is long-term. Without cooperation from all, its not possible to win the war."

"Brac has been working relentlessly to raise awareness among people, provide masks and financial assistance with more than one lakh colleagues including field workers, health worker and volunteers," the press release quoted him as saying.

Saleh urged individuals as well as institutions to join the campaign, to make it a success.