WFP, USAID to dole out food to 'monga'-stricken
Sunday, 13 December 2009
S M Jahangir
Two international agencies will conduct another round of special food assistance programmes to reduce hunger in the country's major poverty-stricken areas shortly, official sources said.
The World Food Programme (WFP) will launch food support scheme in eight districts, they said.
"The WFP has informed us about its plan to operate a food security programme in eight poverty-hit districts," a senior food and disaster management ministry official told the FE.
They are: Bagerhat, Satkhira, Khulna, Jamalpur, Mymensigh, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Rangpur, the official mentioned.
The WFP, the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger, will distribute 5,512.70 tonnes of rice among 110,200 poor families of the districts, the officials said.
Each family will receive 50 kilogrammes (kgs) of rice under the programme, they said, adding that the WFP is expected to launch the food security scheme in January.
According to the officials, the WFP recently conducted a similar programme in 11 districts.
Some 170,000 poverty-stricken families received 50 kgs of rice under the WFP's previous food assistance scheme, said the officials.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will also conduct food support programme in the country's five 'monga'-hit districts.
The USAID has also informed the ministry about the programme in Bangladesh, a ministry official told this correspondent.
Besides, USAID implementing partner, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), has also planned a special food security programme in two districts - Jamalpur and Mymensigh, the ministry sources said.
The agency will distribute rice, edible oil and peas among poor families of the districts, they added.
Officials said the international agencies have joined hands with the government to help the ultra-poor of the society to enhance their food security.
Two international agencies will conduct another round of special food assistance programmes to reduce hunger in the country's major poverty-stricken areas shortly, official sources said.
The World Food Programme (WFP) will launch food support scheme in eight districts, they said.
"The WFP has informed us about its plan to operate a food security programme in eight poverty-hit districts," a senior food and disaster management ministry official told the FE.
They are: Bagerhat, Satkhira, Khulna, Jamalpur, Mymensigh, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Rangpur, the official mentioned.
The WFP, the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger, will distribute 5,512.70 tonnes of rice among 110,200 poor families of the districts, the officials said.
Each family will receive 50 kilogrammes (kgs) of rice under the programme, they said, adding that the WFP is expected to launch the food security scheme in January.
According to the officials, the WFP recently conducted a similar programme in 11 districts.
Some 170,000 poverty-stricken families received 50 kgs of rice under the WFP's previous food assistance scheme, said the officials.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will also conduct food support programme in the country's five 'monga'-hit districts.
The USAID has also informed the ministry about the programme in Bangladesh, a ministry official told this correspondent.
Besides, USAID implementing partner, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), has also planned a special food security programme in two districts - Jamalpur and Mymensigh, the ministry sources said.
The agency will distribute rice, edible oil and peas among poor families of the districts, they added.
Officials said the international agencies have joined hands with the government to help the ultra-poor of the society to enhance their food security.