China, UNDP offers $4m for Bangladesh's disaster recovery

DHAKA - To support the flood response, the Ministry of Commerce (MoFCOM) of China has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide four million US dollars for early recovery efforts in Bangladesh.

This is a part of MoFCOM's Disaster Recovery Support in South Asia, said the UN agency in a statement received here Wednesday.

Under this partnership, UNDP will provide 13,000 flood-affected households in flood-hit Bogra, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Nilphamari districts with emergency shelter and households items packages including materials to repair 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, 292 km southeast of capital Dhaka.

China will also provide support in Pakistan and Nepal to restoring the livelihoods of the flood-affected people, said the statement.

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