The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of Japanese Yen 500 million (approx. US$ 3.2 million) from the government of Japan to boost food security for communities impacted by Cyclone Remal and consecutive floods in 2024.
An agreement was signed by Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh and Domenico Scalpelli, WFP Representative and Country Director in Bangladesh.
“I’m hopeful that this project will rehabilitate infrastructure in the hardest-hit districts affected by floods and cyclones,” said Ambassador Saida.
“This project is fundamental to scale up life-saving assistance and recovery efforts. Japan will continue to work towards sustainable solutions and will cooperate with international organizations such as WFP.”
The contribution goes towards addressing immediate food needs, while at the same time rebuilding assets that improve long-term food security.
This includes roads, embankments and small-scale bridges, badly damaged by Cyclone Remal and severe flooding in 2024, a year of unprecedented climate emergencies which affected nearly 18 million people across the country.
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The contribution will benefit half a million people in the districts most affected - Khulna, Satkhira, Cumilla, Borguna, Moulavibazar and Kurigram.
“Damaged infrastructure has hampered communities’ access to markets and essential services, slowing recovery and affecting people’s food security. By supporting their food security and building back critical infrastructure we will aid immediate recovery and help them withstand shocks better, ” said Domenico Scalpelli, WFP’s Country Director in Bangladesh.
In the aftermath of Cyclone Remal and the floods in Sylhet, Jamuna basin and the eastern regions, WFP provided immediate assistance to nearly 150,000 households in the 12 flood-affected districts of Bangladesh.
Since last September, Japan provided assistance worth US$ 1 million to the flood-affected areas through UNHCR and UNICEF and provided emergency humanitarian aid worth US$ 2 million to the Japan Platform, a platform of Japanese NGOs, to launch a program to provide emergency relief in eastern Bangladesh.
The Japanese Commerce & Industry Association in Dhaka and the Japanese Association in Dhaka donated a total of BDT 200,000 to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society to support individuals and families affected by the floods. Japan signed a US$ 3.2 million agreement with IOM this week for the flood response and recovery.