Government of China teams up with UNDP in post disaster recovery in Bangladesh

DHAKA, Dec. 21 (Ns

NewsWire) –In Bangladesh, the 2017 South-Asian monsoon floods inundated the northern flood plains of the country, affecting 7 million people in 31 districts. Flooding settlements, the water destroyed 82,000 houses and damaged many more, leaving 320,000 people in need of support to repair their homes and replace their belongings once the flood waters receded.

To support the flood response, the Ministry of Commerce (MoFCOM) of the People’s Republic of China has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide $4 million for early recovery efforts in Bangladesh. This is a part of MoFCOM’s Disaster Recovery Support in South Asia.

Under this partnership, UNDP will provide 13,000 flood-affected households in Bogra, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Nilphamari with emergency shelter and households items packages including materials to repair their housing and to keep warm in the upcoming winter months. Additionally, UNDP is partnering with UNFPA to ensure that 14,000 flood-affected women and girls will be provided with emergency dignity kits containing clothing, personal hygiene items and a flashlight, and 125 health workers provided with emergency health response kits to serve women and girls’ health needs.

In recognition of the Government of Bangladesh’s support to the Rohingya, the Chinese contribution will also support the procurement of medical supplies for health facilities serving Rohingya women and girls in Cox’s Bazar.

China will also provide support in Pakistan and Nepal to restoring the livelihoods of the flood affected people, which is a part of South-South Cooperation Initiative to address the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

It is expected that, with this first of its kind initiative, UNDP and Chinese Government will have stronger collaboration with a larger Impact on disaster management and early recovery in Bangladesh and in South Asia.