China, UNDP, UNFPA extend humanitarian supports to flood victims

The government of China with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) extended further humanitarian supports to help rehabilitate the people badly affected by last year's floods.

The embassy of China in Bangladesh together with UNDP, UNFPA and the Nilphamari district administration today distributed various relief materials among the flood victims of the district. The relief goods include household materials and CGI sheets for building houses, according to a UNDP press release.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Chinese Economic and Commercial Counselor to Bangladesh Li Guangjun, UNDP Country Director Sudipto Mukerjee, UNFPA Deputy Representative Iori Kato and Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Khaled Rahim attended the relief distribution event.

Last year, nearly 70 lakh people in 31 northern districts of the country were badly affected by recurring floods that destroyed 82,000 houses and damaged many more, leaving 320,000 people in need of support.

To support the flood victims, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China has partnered with the UNDP to provide $4 million for early recovery efforts in Bangladesh.

As part of this joint initiative, a total of 13910 families in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Bogra and Nilphamari districts received the relief materials.

Speaking on the occasion, Asaduzzaman Noor hoped that this kind of supports from UNDP and China would continue in future.

The minister thanked the government of China and UNDP for extending their supports.

He also praised UNFPA for taking extra care of the Rohingya women and girls of reproductive age, considering gender-based violence.

Li Guangjun said that China "sympathized with the flood victims and Rohingyas in Bangladesh" and "appreciated the humanitarian assistance provided by UNDP in partnership with other organizations."

Sudipto Mukerjee said China has been increasingly supporting developing countries in humanitarian relief and recovery as well as advancing the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

He said this partnership would explore other areas of collaboration especially relating to disaster management and early recovery in Bangladesh.

Highlighting UNFPA's contributions, Iori Kato said UNFPA supported 26,000 flood affected women and girls of reproductive age to ensure their reproductive health and rights.

"For protecting dignity and ensuring support for gender based violence survivors in Cox's Bazar, we have also provided life-saving interventions to women and girls," Iori said.

China, UNDP and UNFPA partnership also helped Rohingya women by providing them with life-saving reproductive health kits, medicines and supplies to health facilities particularly for women and girls of reproductive age.