Standard Chartered Bangladesh and Campaign For Popular Education (CAMPE) have joined together to deliver emergency essentials and other necessary aid to flood-impacted individuals across Sylhet.
As part of the bank’s response to the recent flood situation, packages containing emergency food and hygiene supplies have already been disbursed to 5,000 beneficiaries, reads a press release.
A further 10,000 beneficiaries will be supported through the next phase of the initiative.
Each relief package is structured to feed a family of five for up to two weeks and ensures that families are able to keep themselves and their surroundings clean.
Food supplies being provided to all 15,000 beneficiaries follow standard nutrition and calorie intake guidelines.
ORSaline-N has also been provided as part of the distribution to help stave off waterborne illness.
This intervention delivers aid to vulnerable communities who have been hard hit by recent flooding across northern Bangladesh.
Beneficiaries for this emergency intervention include families with little to no income opportunities, households led by women and widows, individuals residing in slums, those with disabilities, and members of ethnic and religious minority groups.
Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said: “Estimates show that at the flood peak, 72% of the Sylhet district was submerged. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by this devastating calamity. We sincerely hope that these essential food and hygiene supplies will keep families safe and nourished in the coming two weeks, while they recover and get back on their feet. Unfortunately, these recent floods are the worst our country has seen in the last few decades. We will continue to monitor the current situation and ensure that vulnerable members of our community get the help that they need.”
Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director, Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), said: “The recent floods have shown us the fury of nature, but also given us the confidence to rely on the strength and resilience of our people. We appreciate the proactive moves taken by Standard Chartered Bangladesh to reach out to flood-affected communities with timely help through CAMPE and its local partner organizations.”
“We need to continue this partnership to help distressed communities in their rehabilitation efforts, particularly in helping learners to get back to schools with necessary reading and writing materials. Bangladesh has been managing disasters well and will continue to do so in partnership with all stakeholders like government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector,” she added.
Following the disbursement of relief packages to 15,000 beneficiaries, the bank will work to enable a long-term recovery in an effort to mitigate the lasting impacts of the year’s catastrophic flooding.
As part of this, Standard Chartered Bangladesh is working closely with execution partners to address two post-flood challenges – diminished access to healthcare and resources, job loss and the need for reskilling and reintegration into the economy.
