UN allocates $5 million to support response to Cyclone Amphan

UN allocates $5 million to support response to Cyclone Amphan

The United Nation’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated $5 million to complement the Bangladesh government’s recovery efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Amphan.

Cyclone Amphan caused large scale destruction in the south-western parts of Bangladesh in May.

The CERF allocation will provide high-impact life-saving assistance to a prioritized caseload of 250,000 persons in the districts of Khulna and Satkhira in Khulna Division and, in Barguna and Patuakhali districts in Barisal Division.

The CERF funding is provided to five UN agencies: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP) under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, according to the UN office in Dhaka, reports UNB.

The targeted vulnerable population will benefit from emergency shelter, protection, nutrition, and livelihood support as well as cash assistance.

On May 20, Cyclone Amphan made landfall near Jammu Island, West Bengal. Situation analysis and anticipatory impacts assessments were issued prior to the cyclone landfall.

It activated the Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Plan (HPRP) in line with the contingency plan for climate-related disasters in time of Covid- 19 pandemic of the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT).

The Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) co-led by the Department of Disaster Management and Care completed the joint needs assessment, UN Women coordinated a rapid gender analysis and the HCTT Cyclone Amphan Response Plan was finalized with the support of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR).

It integrates some components of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’s (IFRC) appeal launched on May 28.

The plan seeks $25 million to assist 700,000 people in Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, and Jashore.

Once again, the Sundarbans played a critical role in lessening the impact of the cyclone in Bangladesh.

The protection of natural treasures must be an integral part of disaster risk reduction strategies to complement man-made flood defense systems.

The CERF-funded projects have a strong focus on women, children and persons with disabilities and will be delivered in line with Covid-19 mitigation measures, said the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Mia Seppo.

Red Cross Red Crescent Movement organizations, national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including members of the Start Fund Bangladesh are supporting the national response (see detailed in updates and monitoring reports).

The UN noted the importance of the contributions from partners to complement the government’s response and to facilitate a quick and smooth recovery process for all persons affected by the cyclone.