UNICEF increases assistance responding to current flood
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
UNICEF, an organ of the United Nations, has increased its assistance responding to the current floods in Bangladesh and "pre-positioned" US$ 1.8 million worth of foodstuff for the flood victims, reports UNB.
"We've increased assistance quite substantially in several sectors including health, water and sanitation …UN is working well together to address the situation," UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Louis-Georges Arsenault told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Tuesday.
Arsenault, who will be visiting the flood-hit northern districts from Wednesday to assess the relief and rehabilitation work, said it is a very difficult situation where many millions of people have been affected.
Asked about increased UNICEF allocation for the flood victims, he said: "This is already happening and more resources are being allocated."
Arsenault said US$ 7 million have already been allocated, which is also part of the UNICEF's country programme with the government. This is not necessarily all new money and its resources exist with the government that can be allocated for the flood-hit people.
To another question, he said six to seven million people have been affected at various levels, of which he thinks one million people are badly affected by the current flooding.
The UNICEF Representative said it is a difficult task to reach the one million badly affected people and all efforts are being made together with the government to provide food and shelter for these people.
The Foreign Adviser said the UNICEF and the government were working together in areas of pure water, sanitation, health and nutritious food. He said US$ 1.8 million worth of foodstuff had been pre-positioned in the flood-affected areas for distribution.
Replying to a question, he said the UN had assured all assistance and new additional assistance would be made as and when there was such a requirement.
"We've increased assistance quite substantially in several sectors including health, water and sanitation …UN is working well together to address the situation," UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Louis-Georges Arsenault told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Tuesday.
Arsenault, who will be visiting the flood-hit northern districts from Wednesday to assess the relief and rehabilitation work, said it is a very difficult situation where many millions of people have been affected.
Asked about increased UNICEF allocation for the flood victims, he said: "This is already happening and more resources are being allocated."
Arsenault said US$ 7 million have already been allocated, which is also part of the UNICEF's country programme with the government. This is not necessarily all new money and its resources exist with the government that can be allocated for the flood-hit people.
To another question, he said six to seven million people have been affected at various levels, of which he thinks one million people are badly affected by the current flooding.
The UNICEF Representative said it is a difficult task to reach the one million badly affected people and all efforts are being made together with the government to provide food and shelter for these people.
The Foreign Adviser said the UNICEF and the government were working together in areas of pure water, sanitation, health and nutritious food. He said US$ 1.8 million worth of foodstuff had been pre-positioned in the flood-affected areas for distribution.
Replying to a question, he said the UN had assured all assistance and new additional assistance would be made as and when there was such a requirement.