The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday welcomed a US$ 300,000 contribution by the South Korean government to provide immediate lifesaving assistance to severely cyclone-affected people of Bangladesh.

WFP will use the Korean funds to distribute rice in combination with other food commodities resourced by donors for poor people devastated by the cyclone.

"The Republic of Korea as a major donor nation hopes that this contribution to WFP's Emergency Operations will help to alleviate the food-insecurity situation and help to restore livelihoods for 2.2 million people in the cyclone-hit areas," said Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Suk-Bum Park.

WFP has so far delivered over 400 metric tonnes of biscuits and over 750 metric tonnes of rice to more than 1.2 million people in the worst-hit areas, overland and by boat as well as by air.

The UN food agency plans to provide over 71,000 metric tonnes of food to 2.2 million people at a cost of US$ 52 million over the next six months.