Staff Reporter:
Sweden is providing USD 1.2 million or approx. Tk 14.5 crores of vital humanitarian assistance to communities affected by Cyclone Remal in southwestern Bangladesh.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexandra Berg von Linde, said,” Sweden stands with the 4.6 million people affected by Cyclone Remal, which has displaced 800,000 people in southwestern Bangladesh. I am pleased to announce that Sweden is providing humanitarian assistance to support those affected. This includes USD 1.2 million (approx. BDT 14.5 crores) through the Swedish Red Cross, Save the Children and Islamic Relief. This will provide over 86,000 people with basic necessities such as food, shelter and the opportunity to make a living, while 15,000 children are given the opportunity to return to school. This contribution complements the government of Bangladesh’s response.”
The humanitarian support will be used, among other things, to provide cash support to affected families. Cash support enables people to decide for themselves what they need. This could, for example, enable them to buy food and clothes, arranging a roof over your head or paying for healthcare.
Swedish Red Cross will through BDRCS provide cash support to 6,500 households in the worst affected areas. This will help vulnerable people to be able to quickly acquire basic necessities, such as food and medicines.
Save the Children will provide cash grants and hygiene items for 2,000 households and shelter support to 600 households in Khulna and Barguna districts. Support will also be provided to repair 24 schools destroyed by the cyclone, enabling 15,000 children to return to school.
Islamic Relief will provide cash support and hygiene items for 7,200 households in Patuakhali and Barguna districts, with a particular focus on households headed by women, widows and pregnant and lactating women.
Sweden is also one of the largest humanitarian donors globally and the top donor to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which is responding to Cyclone Remal with a total of USD 7.5 million (approx. BDT 87.6 crores) to support those affected.
