The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that it would work as a coordinator to manage funds from different donor agencies to procure food to meet shortfalls in food stocks in Bangladesh, an official said.
Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator held a meeting with the finance adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam in his office. After the meeting, Kemal said that UNDP intends to hold talks with different organizations and countries providing food assistance to Bangladesh. The finance adviser told Dervis that the caretaker government would try to deliver food assistance to those in need through increased social security measures.
The UN official said he could not say at present how much food assistance Bangladesh would finally obtain, although a tentative estimate would be made following discussions with the donor agencies.
The UNDP administrator arrived in Dhaka on Saturday for a three-day trip to meet with high level officials, and visit sites related to the general elections, and development in Bangladesh. Together with eight other development partners, UNDP helped to pool $50 million for the voter registration programme. Bangladesh presently suffers serious food scarcity because of the cyclone and flooding in recent times.
News Source: Independent Bangladesh.