Women play role in breaking cycle of hunger: Rader

Women in Bangladesh are playing a critical role in World Food Programme's work to break the cycle of hunger and create food secure communities, reports BSS. WFP Bangladesh Representative Christa Rader said: "WFP Bangladesh commemorates International Women's Day by renewed efforts to prioritise women in all our operations, and by underlining the value of involving men in the struggle to eradicate gender gaps and achieve lasting equality." Despite impressive gains in public participation over the last two decades, women in Bangladesh remain particularly vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity. Due to social restrictions, they face additional barriers in generating income and are more vulnerable than men to the consequences of natural disasters. "WFP is fully committed to supporting the Government of Bangladesh in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of promoting gender equality, and reducing poverty and hunger. Working together we could help remove the barriers that prevent women and children in this country achieving their full potential," said Rader. In 2010, WFP assisted over 2.5 million ultra poor women and young girls. Programmes include the innovative Food Security for the Ultra Poor (FSUP) project, which supports 30,000 of the poorest and most vulnerable women in the country. In disaster-prone areas, where WFP supports communities in building resilience to natural disasters, women from the most food-insecure households are the primary beneficiaries of all food and cash-for-work activities. Furthermore, WFP's School Feeding programme is significantly boosting enrolment and attendance, and reducing the drop out rates among primary school girls and boys, while involving women as members and leaders in school committees. WFP also works with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs on the implementation of the largest safety net programme in Bangladesh targeting ultra poor women, the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) Programme. WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger world-wide. Each year, on an average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.