UN food aid for 1.20 lakh CHT people

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing food assistance to meet the immediate food needs of over 120,000 people affected by rodent attack in Rangamati and Bandarban districts.
WFP will continue to assist 25,680 households of the 31 most affected unions of the seven severely affected upazilas for a period of four months, from May to August, 2008, said a press release.
WFP assistance would help affected people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) maintain adequate food consumption and protect livelihoods. The rodent plague caused by the seasonal flowering of bamboo has destroyed the crops and livelihoods of people in CHT, the release said.
“Thousands of poor tribal families would have remained destitute due to the loss of their crops and livelihoods. The donor assistance has enabled WFP to respond quickly to feed these vulnerable poor families who are in need of food,” said WFP acting representative in Bangladesh Edward Kallon.
WFP will distribute over 5000 metric tons food commodities during the period following a significant contribution from Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), European Commission Humanitarian Assistance (ECHO) and Australia.
WFP will reassess the situation in August 2008 and design further assistance accordingly.
In conjunction with the government relief efforts, WFO food assistance is being distributed with the help of government officials, local NGOs and community representatives.