The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun providing financial assistance to vulnerable families in Bandarban before flood conditions reach their peak, as heavy monsoon rain continues to increase the risk of widespread flooding across the Chattogram Hill Tracts.
The initiative combines anticipatory humanitarian assistance with shock-responsive social protection, allowing support to reach people before severe flooding causes major disruption.
Under the anticipatory action programme, households identified as being at high risk are receiving Tk5,000 through mobile financial services.
The payments are released before floodwaters reach dangerous levels, using weather forecasts and pre-agreed warning indicators to determine when assistance should begin.
At the same time, WFP has activated its shock-responsive social protection programme, offering additional emergency cash support to vulnerable families already enrolled in government social safety net schemes.
The programme is being delivered in partnership with Bolipara Nari Kalyan Samity (BNKS). According to WFP, more than 15,600 households, representing around 75,000 people in Bandarban Sadar and Lama upazilas, have received assistance.
The support comes as persistent rainfall has caused flooding in several parts of the Chattogram Hill Tracts, including Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari.
Weather forecasts indicate that further heavy rain is likely in the coming days, raising concerns that flood conditions could deteriorate.
WFP Representative and Country Director in Bangladesh, Coco Ushiyama, said climate-related disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, making early action essential.
She said providing assistance before flooding reaches its worst stage helps families protect their food supplies, livelihoods and household assets.
She added that strengthening Bangladesh’s social protection system allows support to be expanded more quickly when emergencies arise.
Bangladesh remains one of the countries most exposed to the effects of climate change, with seasonal flooding posing a continuing threat to communities, agriculture and food security.
The Chattogram Hill Tracts are among the regions that regularly experience severe impacts during the monsoon season.
WFP has been working with the Bangladesh government and humanitarian partners since 2017 to develop anticipatory action programmes aimed at reducing the impact of climate-related disasters before they occur.
According to the agency, joint studies with partner organisations suggest that every US$1 invested in anticipatory action can produce up to US$7 in avoided losses and wider benefits compared with relying solely on emergency assistance after a disaster.
The UN agency is also continuing its work with the government to strengthen Bangladesh’s social protection system, enabling existing safety net programmes to expand rapidly during emergencies and deliver timely support to families at risk before they face deeper financial hardship.
.jpg "Army continues to help families in flood-hit areas of Chattogram")
