In response to record-level rainfall and catastrophic flooding across areas of northern Bangladesh, the United States and the United Kingdom have announced new funds to help the affected people.
The US embassy in Dhaka said Washington is providing over 2.3 crore ($244,680) Bangladesh taka of emergency funding through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to deliver critical relief to families and communities hit hardest by this crisis.
The UK has released additional emergency funding of £442,548 (over five crore taka) to support communities affected by the ongoing floods in Sylhet division.
This brings the UK’s contribution to the flood relief effort in recent weeks to £636,548 (over seven crore taka), the High Commission said.
The fund is to assist people affected by historic flooding in northern areas of the country.
“Some of these areas have not seen floodwaters like this for over 120 years. The United States continues to stand by the government and the people of Bangladesh during these challenging times and will support our partners on the ground to deliver crucial assistance to people in areas most affected by the deluge,” said US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Helen LaFave.
Acting British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Javed Patel, said: “The devastation we have seen from flooding this year in Bangladesh has been heartbreaking. The new emergency funding we have released today will be used to support the most vulnerable through cash assistance, shelter management, water and sanitation, and educational materials.”
The UK’s funding has been allocated through Start Fund Bangladesh and will be administered through Caritas Bangladesh, Christian Aid, Voluntary Association for Rural Development, and World Vision Bangladesh.