DHAKA, Aug 29, 2024 (BSS) - The UK has decided to provide additional £450,000
(Taka 7 crore) of vital humanitarian assistance to support more than 36,000
people affected by flooding in eastern Bangladesh, where more than five
million people have been impacted.

"The UK government stands beside all of those affected by the current
flooding in eastern Bangladesh," said British High Commissioner to Bangladesh
Sarah Cooke on the occasion, a press release issued by the British high
commission here.  

She said the new support is in addition to the UK government's responses to
cyclone Remal and flooding earlier this year in Bangladesh, and our broader
support to increase Bangladesh's resilience to climate change.

"This contribution complements the active and ongoing response of the interim
government of Bangladesh, civil society and local communities," she added.

This assistance will support people in seven of the worst affected districts:
Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Moulvibazar, Khagrachari and Chattogram.
Some areas are facing their most severe flooding in 40 years, it added.

One component of this new UK support will be managed by Start Fund Bangladesh
and implemented by NGOs. This will support over 36,000 people with food, cash
transfers, clean water, sanitation and hygiene supplies.
A second component will be managed by the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA), and provide emergency maternal, newborn and reproductive health
services to 4,500 women and adolescent girls.

This includes helping to establish and run 30 mobile medical camps, which
will provide essential medicines and healthcare.

The new £450,000 brings the UK government's total support to disaster
preparedness and response across Bangladesh this year to over £1,500,000
(Taka 23.4 crores), said the press release.