25,635 households get food, hygiene support amid COVID-19 crisis

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RAJSHAHI, Aug 17, 2020 (BSS)- A total of 25,635 poor and extreme poor families were given food and hygiene support in order to secure their food intake for a period of 20 to 30 days amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Each of the households was given a food package containing 20-50 kilograms of rice, 5-10 kilograms of potatoes, two kilograms of salt, one-two kilograms of lentil and one kilogram of edible oil, semolina and sugar each through maintaining social distancing and other security measures.

They were also given another non-food hygiene packet containing 20 pieces of Paracetamol, Metronidazole and Antihistamines, 5 Sachets of Oral Saline, 3-5 pieces of soap and 2-4 facemasks each.

On behalf of NETZ Partnership for Development and Justice (NETZ), a non-profit organization registered in Germany and Bangladesh, the support was given in the poverty pockets of 10 districts of Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions.

During the distribution from April 21 to July 29 last, the recipients were given awareness on health and hygiene in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization and put on masks and maintain social distance.

NETZ Programme Manager Md Moniruzzaman here told BSS the supports were given in cooperation with the respective partner NGOs to respond to the Covid-19 and the supports secured food intake of the recipient families for the certain period.

He said the food supports were distributed among the extreme poor families to make them free from falling in the trap of advanced labour sale to local elite.

As a whole, humanitarian assistance was reached at a time when many poor families were on the verge of forced sale of productive assets for continuing their food intake.

NETZ has been working in the areas focusing its support on income and food security for extremely poor people, primary education for children of extreme poor families and promotion of human rights through the partner NGOs.

“We never thought of getting such life-saving support for us, specifically for the children, elderly and very vulnerable families in such a difficult time,” said Muhammad Faruk, 30, of Chokbohabni village in Patnitala Upazila of Naogaon district.

He said the recipients felt secured for a month at least by getting essential foods. Otherwise, they had to sell out their domestic animals that could adversely affect their livelihood.

Moniruzzaman mentioned more humanitarian support is required to secure food intake of the extreme poor vulnerable groups to overcome the long term negative impacts of the ongoing troubled situation.