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Download PDF The government prepares to provide rice for the cyclone victims while a UNDP report says people need dry food assistance first and then rice and a more complete food basket including pulses and cooking oil for up to three months.
Under a special Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme, 25 lakh families across 12 coastal districts will be given 15 kilograms of rice against each card a month from December to March. But local government representatives demand that the government increase the number of cards and amount of rice.
Habibullah Masud, chairman of Itbaria union parishad (UP) in Patuakhali, one of the worst-affected districts, yesterday demanded that the local upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) provide at least 5,000 VGF cards and raise the amount of rice per month to 40 kg from 15 kg.
“The UNO is offering 3,000 cards for my union, but that is not enough,” Masud told The Daily Star.
Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), suggests that alongside providing food the government should undertake programmes to create opportunities for the victims to earn a livelihood.
Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam said the government has already decided to provide food support for 25 lakh families in the affected areas for four months, starting in December.
“We must keep it in mind that the government alone cannot compensate for the losses caused by the November 15 cyclone,” Aziz told The Daily Star.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Friday released its initial assessment report on Cyclone Sidr. It says about 2.56 million people are in need of immediate relief assistance.
“Approximately 2.2 million are in need of food assistance, both in terms of dry food (first 1-2 weeks), then rice, and finally a more complete food aid basket with pulses and cooking oil for a 2-3 month period,” read the UNDP report based on a survey across nine coastal districts last week.
“Dry food assistance (ready to eat food) is particularly important in many areas for the immediate term, as housing and cooking areas are gradually repaired,” it said adding that around 1.4 million people need urgent shelter assistance.
According to the UNDP assessment, shelter materials like corrugated iron sheets and wood are badly needed. “Non-food items such as clothing and blankets are also needed and approximately 1.2 million people are in need of clothing,” it continued.
Sanitation problem is acute as a large number of houses have been levelled by the storm. At least 1.27 million people need access to latrines while 1.2 million face crisis of safe drinking water, the report said adding that at least 0.52 million people need medical care.
On management of relief distribution and rehabilitation programmes, the UNDP observed that ensuring a well-coordinated and timely response will continue to be a major challenge. “Coordination between national institutions such as ministries, the military and customs are critical, while coordination on logistics and information management represent two of the highest priority coordination areas,” it said.
The report went on saying that the implementation of early public work schemes and safety nets either using cash for work or food for work is of vital importance. “The beneficial effects of generating employment and much needed income for the worst-affected people cannot be underestimated,” it added.
Asked about rehabilitation plans, Mirza Aziz said the government is considering launching test relief activities in the cyclone-hit areas when it has also plan to give grants to poor people for reconstruction of houses.
“We may not be able to give money to reconstruct, say, four rooms for a victim, but we can at least provide him with support to build one,” the adviser said.
Asked about budgetary pressures to make funds for cyclone-hit people, he said the ministry is considering three ways to manage funds. “Currently we are waiting for foreign assistance, then we will try to reallocate funds from block allocations and at final stage, we might readjust the ADP,” he said.
About the economists’ call for reviewing the budget, the adviser said it’s a continuous process and if necessary the government would review the budget at an appropriate time.
In preparation for the special VGF campaign, the UNOs in coastal districts have already asked the UP chairmen to provide a list of those most affected in the category four storm.
Humayun Kabir, chairman of Awliapur union in Patuakhali, demanded the UNO allocate at least 5,000 cards, while Boro Bighaipur UP Chairman Abdul Latif Master wants 7,000.
“The UNO said it’s not possible to approve more than 3,000 cards for my union,” said Humayun Kabir.
Both the chairmen want the government to provide at least 40 kg rice per card every month.
Mosharraf Hossain Molla, chairman of Isatpur union at Rajair upazila in Madaripur, said local administration has planned to allocate only 150 cards for Isatpur while the union needs 800 more.
He too has asked for increased amount of rice against the cards. Chairmen of the neighbouring unions made the similar demand.
Rajair UNO Moshiur Rahman said he has got only 2,000 cards while he needs at least 4,000 more for the unions under his upazila.
The government will distribute 5,000 VGF cards among the poor in each union and pourasava in four of the 12 districts. For the rest, 2,000 VGF cards will be allocated for each union and poursava.
A total of 25,90,000 cards will be distributed across the coastal districts.
December 4th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
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