Brac to donate 10 crore to 50,000 flood-hit families

Brac will assist 50 thousand severely flood affected families with Tk10 crore, with each family receiving Tk2,000 in cash assistance.

The assistance will be given to families in 15 worst-flood hit upazilas in seven  districts, namely Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Bogra, Sirajgonj, Jamalpur, and Sunamganj, read a press release published by Brac on Friday.

The money will be sent by bKash mobile money transfer, the release added. 

Asif Saleh, executive director of Brac, said: “Brac has always stood by the people hit by natural calamities. Our staff gave relentless services in the areas hit by Aila, Mahasen, Amphan and other cyclones in the past.

“We are committed to standing by the people seriously affected by this year's flood and to giving cash assistance which will help them meet their urgent necessities."

Having given a general call for assistance for flood victims, the executive director  said: "We are also calling on individuals and institutions to extend their generosity towards these families in distress. Brac has taken up an initiative to collect funds so that more families can be reached with assistance.” 

Also Read - EU provides Tk1cr for flood victims in Bangladesh

This year, 4.7 million people in 31 districts have been affected by the floods, with most of  Jamalpur inundated. 

So far, 41 people have died, mostly by drowning. Nearly one million households are waterlogged. Around 90,000 people with about 76,000 cattle are staying in emergency flood shelters. 

Brac has been continuing its response with various initiatives since the beginning of the floods this monsoon. 

Early warning messages were sent over four community radio stations, social media platforms, and its field staff in the remote and worst hit regions, all the while maintaining Covid-19 safety measures. 

Dry food and oral saline packets were distributed to the waterlogged families in Islampur and Dewanganj upazilas of Jamalpur. Brac also installed sanitary latrines close to flood shelters in Porsha upazila of Naogaon district. 

Assistance was also provided to the worst suffering families in Kurigram from funds granted by the Greta Thunberg Foundation.