BRAC has initiated the second phase of its emergency food assistance programme for another hundred thousand (one lakh) families. A budget of BDT 150 million (15 crore) has been allocated to fund the food aid programme for families facing livelihood crisis in 50 districts due to lockdown and social distancing measures over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the initiative that began on Wednesday (15 April) each family will receive BDT 1,500 enabling them to buy essential food items for two weeks. The Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and BRAC Bank are partnering with BRAC for the second phase.
In the first phase of the initiative, BRAC has already disbursed the same amount (BDT 150 million) from its own fund to separate 100 thousand families that received the same amount of BDT 1,500 each to buy essential food items.
Having referred to a recent countrywide survey by BRAC, which shows a 60 percentage point rise in extreme poverty due to measures to fight the pandemic, Asif Saleh, executive director, BRAC, said, "The survey findings show 72% people have lost their jobs or suffered reduced work opportunities. A loss of income has resulted in the rise of extreme poverty by 60 percentage point. Also 14% people have no food reserved at home, while 29% have only 1-3 days’ food-reserve.”
“Two weeks have elapsed since the survey and we believe the situation has further deteriorated, prompting us to launch the second phase of our cash assistance programme which will help these families buy food from nearby functional markets or shops," he added.
Asif Saleh also expressed his gratitude to the DFAT, GAC and BRAC Bank for partnering with BRAC in this initiative. “Our measures are not sufficient to meet the food crisis low-income households are grappling with across the country. I urge more individuals and organisations with means to join our fundraising initiative so that emergency aid can be reached to many more families living in ultra-poverty and urban slums,” said BRAC executive director.
BRAC has been conducting a nationwide massive community awareness campaign since the outbreak of coronavirus in the country. As a partner of the Bangladesh government’s COVID-19 response plan, over 100 thousand of its staff, health workers and volunteers are deployed to carry out the campaign jointly with local administration and public representative bodies.
So far, more than 600,000 sachets of liquid soap, soap bars and hand sanitiser have been distributed across the country. Health workers and mass people received more than 55,000 surgical masks and 81,000 pair of gloves for personal protection against COVID-19.
BRAC has already started manufacturing reusable masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) through its hygienic home-based production units and until now, distributed around 350,000 masks and 2,150 pieces of PPE.
Alongside running an extensive information, education and communication campaign at community level, BRAC is also conducting mass and digital media campaigns to sensitise people with messages of respiratory hygiene, social distancing, coughing etiquettes and hand washing. Renowned physicians, artists, policymakers and senior BRAC officials have joined the campaigns to raise awareness.
