The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has launched anticipatory action (AA) and shock-responsive social protection (SRSP) programs for flood-prone communities in Bandarban district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Under the anticipatory action program, WFP is providing humanitarian assistance before disasters strike, based on weather forecasts and pre-agreed triggers. As part of the initiative, households at high risk of flooding have received Tk5,000 each through mobile financial services.
WFP has also rolled out its shock-responsive social protection program, under which vulnerable households already enrolled in government social protection schemes have received emergency cash top-ups.
More than 15,600 families—around 75,000 people—in Bandarban Sadar and Lama upazilas have received assistance under the joint initiative, implemented by WFP's partner, Bolipara Nari Kalyan Samity (BNKS).
Continuous heavy rainfall has triggered flooding in Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari districts, with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasting more heavy rain in the coming days, raising concerns that the flood situation could worsen.
A WFP statement said the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters in Bangladesh are increasing, making early action more critical than ever.
"By providing assistance before the worst impacts of floods occur, we are helping families protect their food security, livelihoods and assets. At the same time, strengthening the national social protection system allows us to rapidly reach vulnerable people during emergencies," the agency said.
Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with recurrent floods posing serious threats to lives, livelihoods and food security, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Since 2017, WFP has been implementing anticipatory action programs in Bangladesh in collaboration with the government and development partners. According to WFP, research shows that every $1 invested in anticipatory action can prevent up to $7 in losses compared to conventional post-disaster humanitarian assistance.
WFP is also working with the government to strengthen the country's social protection system so it can respond more effectively to climate-related disasters. The SRSP mechanism enables existing government programs to scale up quickly during emergencies and provide timely support to vulnerable households before they fall deeper into crisis.