The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has activated its Anticipatory Action (AA) and Shock-Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) programs to support communities at risk of severe flooding in Bandarban district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Under its Anticipatory Action program, WFP provides humanitarian assistance before disasters strike based on weather forecasts and pre-agreed triggers. As part of the initiative, the agency transferred Tk5,000 through mobile financial services to vulnerable households identified as being at high risk of flooding.
At the same time, WFP activated its Shock-Responsive Social Protection mechanism, providing emergency cash assistance to vulnerable households already enrolled in government social protection programs.
More than 15,600 households, or about 75,000 people, in Bandarban Sadar and Lama upazilas received cash support in partnership with WFP's cooperating partner, Bolipara Nari Kalyan Somity (BNKS).
The assistance comes as persistent heavy rainfall has triggered flooding across the Chittagong Hill Tracts, affecting Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari districts, with forecasts warning of further rainfall and an increased flood risk in the coming days.
"Climate shocks are becoming more frequent and more intense in Bangladesh, making early action more important than ever," said Coco Ushiyama, WFP representative and country director in Bangladesh.
"By delivering assistance before families are hit by the worst impacts of flooding, we help them protect their food security, livelihoods, and assets. At the same time, by strengthening and leveraging national social protection systems, we can support vulnerable people at scale when crises strike," she added.
Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with increasingly frequent and severe floods threatening lives, livelihoods, and food security, particularly in disaster-prone areas such as the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Since 2017, WFP has implemented Anticipatory Action in Bangladesh under the leadership of the government and with support from multiple partners. According to WFP, global evidence shows that every $1 invested in anticipatory action can generate up to $7 in avoided losses and additional benefits.
WFP has also been working with the Bangladesh government to strengthen social protection systems and make them more responsive to climate-related shocks. Through its Shock-Responsive Social Protection approach, existing government programs can be rapidly expanded during emergencies to provide timely assistance to vulnerable households before they fall deeper into crisis.
