BRAC has allocated a budget of Tk 15 crore to help 1 lakh low-income families in urban slums, semi-urban and hard to reach areas whose livelihood have been impacted due to the social distancing measures of COVID-19 pandemic. Tk 1500 will be provided to each family as an emergency food assistance fund, starting from Thursday.
At the first phase, these families will be covered through BRAC’s own fund, and disseminated through its Urban Development Programme, Ultra Poor Graduation Programme, Integrated Development Programme and Humanitarian Programme, the largest NGO in the world said.
“Covid-19 is a humanitarian crisis with a public health dimension. In countries like Bangladesh, it also has a dire economic consequence,” said Asif Saleh, Executive Director at BRAC.
“According to World Bank data, only 15% of Bangladesh’s population makes more than Taka 500 a day. Most villagers depend on remittances from the cities or abroad. Because this is a global crisis, people everywhere are out of work. Income has stopped.”
“Our emergency assistance will be targeted towards low-income families who have lost their source of income due to coronavirus. We will support 100,000 such families; however the requirements are far greater. “I urge compassionate individuals and organisations to come forward and help us scale up the initiative to reach many more,” he added.
Asif Saleh further said the initiative will be implemented in coordination with the local public representatives and administration, particularly to avoid duplication. BRAC’s assistance will enable a family of four to buy essential food items for two weeks.
Low-income families in 12 city corporations, 8 municipalities, 38 sadar upazilas, haor villages, neighbourhoods and market areas near river ports as well as host community living adjacent to the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar will receive this assistance.
BRAC has also launched a fundraising appeal to scale up the effort and increase the coverage. Individuals and any organisation can donate. Details are available on BRAC website.
