The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Deputy Commissioner’s office of Cox’s Bazar have jointly launched Special Support for the Host Community (SSHC) programme in an online ceremony in Cox’s Bazar on Monday.
Officials from the Government of Bangladesh, WFP and partners joined the virtual launch of the programme, WFP said in a statement.
In response to Deputy Commissioner’s request at the end of March, WFP launched the Special Support for the Host Community (SSHC) programme to provide food and cash assistance to more than half a million vulnerable people affected by COVID-19 in the Cox’s Bazar district, reads the statement.
The programme was designed in close coordination with the DC and respective UNO offices and plays a complementary role to the Government’s existing social safety net programme, it added.
After the successful implementation of the first phase of the programme where 125,000 people were provided with food and cash assistance in Ukhiya and Teknaf through April and May, WFP will expand its support to additional 375,000 people in the other six sub-districts through June.
The areas include Moheshikali, Chakalia, Kutubdia, Pekua, Cox’s Bazar Sadar and Ramu where WFP will provide food and cash assistance to extremely vulnerable households not supported by existing social safety net programmes.
“The Government of Bangladesh strives to provide effective support to the marginalized people at a time when they have to deal with the virus financially and through the availability of food,” said Mr. Md. Kamal Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of the district administration of Cox’s Bazar.
“We are really grateful to have WFP on board to provide support to make the programme successful,” he added.
“COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has had health, social, and economic all across the world,” said Mr Richard Ragan, WFP Representative to Bangladesh.
“At WFP, we are committed to standing by people who need it most and we hope that this support will help the people of Cox’s Bazar through the pandemic,” he added.
WFP will continue to support the efforts by the Government of Bangladesh to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, said the statement.
