UK to channel relief support thru' NGOs

FE Team | Published: November 29, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report
The United Kingdom is reviewing Bangladesh's appeal for food aid by March next to help the cyclone Sidr-affected people overcome food insecurity.
In a meeting with the country's donor groups Tuesday, Bangladesh sought delivery of 500,000 tonnes of food aid instead of cash by March 2008 to bolster its ability to feed an estimated three million people, whose livelihoods are now jeopardised in the aftermath of Sidr.
"We're looking into the government's 'big' request. But this needs to be analysed," British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury said Wednesday.
The envoy also said the British government will channel its emergency relief support through the non-government groups "at this point of time" as it continues to search for the "most effective way" of making sure money reaches the needy.
Speaking at a media roundtable on the UK relief to Bangladesh at his Baridhara residence, Choudhury noted: "The government should also carry out appropriate need assessment. It takes nearly two months to get delivery of food aid, although the people need quick support. But we'll come back formally sooner."
As debate grew over the donor community's preference to the non-government channel in handing out emergency aid to the cyclone-affected people, the Bangladeshi-born UK envoy said they are relying on non-government organisations at this point of time while seeking the "most effective channel."
"The best channel varies from country to country. But it's true that we could not have reached the affected people even in 12 hours without the assistance of NGOs affiliated with United Nations," he told a questioner defending the reasons to choose NGOs for relief distribution.
Choudhury, however, said the British government officials are monitoring operations of the NGOs, as he agreed that most of them lacked good corporate governance.
Asked whether the interim administration should lift emergency to facilitate relief operations in the cyclone-battered areas, Choudhury said that the state of emergency should not get in the way of relief operations by anybody.
He also noted that they had no information about the hurdles facing anybody in providing relief anywhere in the country.