The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is going to start its 5th round of emergency food distribution in 26 flood-affected districts of the country targeting more than 1.4 million people.

This follows four earlier distributions to more than 2.1 million people, said a WFP press release.

While announcing the distribution plan of food assistance today (Thursday) WFP Country Representative Douglas Broderick said that due to the recent floods thousands of poor families lost their incomes and livelihoods, the prolonged affect of the flood has reduced food security in many parts of the country.

"The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) enable us to meet food need of people living in communities affected by floods," he added. WFP will distribute over 8,935 metric tons of rice following a contribution of US$ 4 million from the CERF to support emergency food assistance.

Donors to WFP's relief and recovery operation in Bangladesh include the Australia (US$ 1.3 million), German (US$ 680,000 million), Canada (US$ 24,000 million), Spain (US$ 64o,000 million) and the CERF (US$ 4 million).

"WFP has been vigilant about the market situation and price of commodities which affects the food security and livelihood of the poor people especially during the lean season for employment including Monga, said the WFP Country Representative.