Press Release
3 August 2007 (Updated 09 August)
UK gives £1.9 million for immediate flood relief
Responding to the current floods in Bangladesh, the UK has given £1.9 million of immediate aid, providing food, water, shelter and medicines reaching more than 1 million people in the worst-affected districts.
The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting the
Government of Bangladesh’s ongoing relief work, channelling £0.9 million aid through
the
United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Using locally-based NGOs, the response
of the UK is targeted at the areas and people worst hit by the floods.
The UK has also already authorised DFID’s own
Chars
Livelihoods Programme (CLP)
to offer further flood relief efforts in their operation areas in five districts
in the northern region - Jamalpur, Sirajgonj, Bogra, Gaibandha, Kurigram. Up to
£1 million will be spent for this worst hit region by CLP.
Acting UK DFID Country Representative, Sarah Sanyahumbi, said:
“We are keenly aware of the need for urgent action in bringing help for the many gravely affected by flooding. As a long-standing friend of the Bangladeshi people, the UK seeks to continue its partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, and to make sure that assistance reaches those who are most in need.”
Bangladesh’s
Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme, jointly funded by the UK and
UNDP, has been established to improve significantly Bangladesh’s capacity to
manage natural disasters like floods.
During the 2004 floods, UK assistance to the relief operation totalled £29 million. Every year, the UK contributes £120 million through DFID in support of Bangladesh’s development programmes, making it the largest bilateral partner.
Notes to Editors
- So far the Government of Bangladesh has distributed around 5,353 metric tones of rice; and cash grants - about US $500,000 - to the flood victims. The army has joined the civil administration and has been working to prevent water coming from rivers due to the rupture of the embankments as well as distribution of relief goods.
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