Foreign fund flow helps NGOs intensify relief operations
Saturday, 18 August 2007
S M Jahangir
Emergency relief activities in flood-hit areas by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have gained momentum over the past few days with the flow of funds from foreign donors.
"NGOs, working in Bangladesh, have finally intensified their relief operations in flood-hit areas across the country with the availability of increased volume of foreign donations," an official source told the FE.
The official also said there is a rush in the NGO Affairs Bureau for the release of foreign funds for conducting emergency relief operations.
Citing official figures, an official said the Bureau released foreign grants amounting to nearly Tk 400 million in favour of some 70 NGOs until Thursday for the purpose.
Of the total fund, the Bureau released Tk 200 million worth of foreign fund in favour of the NGOs on Wednesday and Thursday last, said officials.
Among the NGOs, BRAC, World Vision Bangladesh, Concern Bangladesh, Oxfam, Gano Unnayan Kendro, CCDB, Qatar Charity, Handicap International, Uddipan, Assistance for Slum Dwellers, Kainonia were the major recipients of such foreign fund.
According to proposals, the NGOs will mainly distribute rice, flour, biscuits and other prepared foods, edible oil, water purifying tablets, soap, drinking water, oral saline, medicines, candles, safety matches etc. among the flood-hit people.
The current flood has affected nearly 58 districts across the country, causing immense sufferings, especially the scarcity of foods, shelters, drinking waters, to more than 10 million people.
Officials, however, indicated that like the emergency relief operations, the NGOs would soon come up with post-flood rehabilitation programmes for the flood victims.
Initially, the participation of NGOs in the relief operations was poor, as they could not attract sufficient volume of foreign grants for the purpose, the official noted.
Apart from the foreign funds, the NGOs are also engaged in the emergency relief operations in different flood-hit areas on their own.
Responding to a query, a senior official said the Bureau has tagged some conditions with the distribution of relief goods by the NGOs in order to make the utilisation of such foreign grants transparent.
Under the conditions, the concerned NGOs have integrated local and district administrations with their relief distribution process in the respective areas of operation.
Moreover, after completion of their relief operations, the NGOs will also require to submit complete reports on such activities to the Bureau, the official said.
However, the Bureau has taken necessary steps regarding the quick release of foreign funds in favour of the NGOs in order to facilitate their emergency relief activities, he mentioned.
Against this backdrop, the government has kept the Bureau offices open even on Saturdays, he added.
Both local and foreign NGOs operating in Bangladesh, received overseas fund/donation amounting to nearly US$ 322.61 in last fiscal year, which was 7.17 per cent lower than the previous year's amount.
NGOs received $ 347.53 worth of external fund through the NGO Affairs Bureau in fiscal 2006-07, official figures showed.
Emergency relief activities in flood-hit areas by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have gained momentum over the past few days with the flow of funds from foreign donors.
"NGOs, working in Bangladesh, have finally intensified their relief operations in flood-hit areas across the country with the availability of increased volume of foreign donations," an official source told the FE.
The official also said there is a rush in the NGO Affairs Bureau for the release of foreign funds for conducting emergency relief operations.
Citing official figures, an official said the Bureau released foreign grants amounting to nearly Tk 400 million in favour of some 70 NGOs until Thursday for the purpose.
Of the total fund, the Bureau released Tk 200 million worth of foreign fund in favour of the NGOs on Wednesday and Thursday last, said officials.
Among the NGOs, BRAC, World Vision Bangladesh, Concern Bangladesh, Oxfam, Gano Unnayan Kendro, CCDB, Qatar Charity, Handicap International, Uddipan, Assistance for Slum Dwellers, Kainonia were the major recipients of such foreign fund.
According to proposals, the NGOs will mainly distribute rice, flour, biscuits and other prepared foods, edible oil, water purifying tablets, soap, drinking water, oral saline, medicines, candles, safety matches etc. among the flood-hit people.
The current flood has affected nearly 58 districts across the country, causing immense sufferings, especially the scarcity of foods, shelters, drinking waters, to more than 10 million people.
Officials, however, indicated that like the emergency relief operations, the NGOs would soon come up with post-flood rehabilitation programmes for the flood victims.
Initially, the participation of NGOs in the relief operations was poor, as they could not attract sufficient volume of foreign grants for the purpose, the official noted.
Apart from the foreign funds, the NGOs are also engaged in the emergency relief operations in different flood-hit areas on their own.
Responding to a query, a senior official said the Bureau has tagged some conditions with the distribution of relief goods by the NGOs in order to make the utilisation of such foreign grants transparent.
Under the conditions, the concerned NGOs have integrated local and district administrations with their relief distribution process in the respective areas of operation.
Moreover, after completion of their relief operations, the NGOs will also require to submit complete reports on such activities to the Bureau, the official said.
However, the Bureau has taken necessary steps regarding the quick release of foreign funds in favour of the NGOs in order to facilitate their emergency relief activities, he mentioned.
Against this backdrop, the government has kept the Bureau offices open even on Saturdays, he added.
Both local and foreign NGOs operating in Bangladesh, received overseas fund/donation amounting to nearly US$ 322.61 in last fiscal year, which was 7.17 per cent lower than the previous year's amount.
NGOs received $ 347.53 worth of external fund through the NGO Affairs Bureau in fiscal 2006-07, official figures showed.