Staff Reporter:
Charitable organisation As-Sunnah Foundation is working to distribute relief materials to approximately 75,000 flood-affected families across various districts, including Feni and Cumilla, in three phases to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the ongoing floods.
The foundation also plans to undertake rehabilitation efforts once the floodwaters recede.
On Wednesday, three trucks loaded with 10 tonnes of dates, 10 tonnes of puffed rice, 5 tonnes of sugar, 5 tonnes of salt, and other relief items set off for Feni. On Thursday and Friday, these supplies were distributed among 5,000 families.
“Given that cooking is not possible at the moment, we are providing 5,000 families with 2 kilograms of dates, 2 kilograms of puffed rice, 1 kilogram of salt, and 1 kilogram of sugar in the first phase,” said a foundation official.
“At present, the most urgent need is for rescue operations, which cannot be conducted without trained personnel and appropriate equipment. The Bangladesh Army and Navy, among others, are already engaged in these efforts. We also urge everyone to contribute to the rescue work in their respective areas.”
“In the second phase, we are arranging dry and heavy relief materials for an additional 40,000 families. We have already procured 600 tonnes of supplies for this purpose, including 300 tonnes of rice, 20,000 bottles of cooking oil (2 litres each), 30 tonnes of dates, 30 tonnes of puffed rice, 40 tonnes of lentils, 27.5 tonnes of salt, 15 tonnes of sugar, 20,000 bottles of water (5 litres each), and 150,000 water purification tablets, candles, and matches. Packaging of these items in Dhaka began on Friday.”
The foundation aims to distribute relief materials, each packet of which will contain 25 kilograms of rice among other items, among 25,000 families in the third phase of the ongoing relief effort.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Ambassador Yousef SY Ramadan visited As-Sunnah Foundation’s relief operations on Friday. He was overwhelmed by the foundation’s extensive efforts and expressed deep sympathy for those affected.
He said, “The people of Bangladesh have shown deep affection for Palestine, and I will repay some of this debt in your time of disaster.”
He also expressed interest in providing symbolic assistance to the victims.
The Palestinian Ambassador’s humanitarian efforts will remain a shining example of Muslim brotherhood.