Germany gives WFP 2.5m euros for Rohingya refugees in B'desh

Dhaka, Jan 1 (IANS/AKI) The United Nations World Food Programme in Bangladesh welcomed a new contribution of 2.5 million euros from the German Foreign Federal Office towards its Rohingya refugee response in Cox's Bazar, WFP said in a statement.The German funds enable the WFP to continue its life saving food assistance in refugee camps in Cox's Bazaar - where some 80 percent of Rohingya depend entirely on humanitarian aid - through in-kind distribution and electronic vouchers, the statement said."With more than 50 percent of refugees already receiving food assistance through e-vouchers, this contribution helps us meet our target of transitioning all refugees onto e-vouchers by mid-2020," said WFP Acting Representative and Deputy Country Director, Piet Vochten."The e-voucher method of food distribution also provides benefits to the local population with Bangladeshi retailers contracted to run the outlets and food sourced locally in Bangladesh," he added.Through the e-vouchers, families receive a monthly allowance that they can spend at a WFP-supported e-voucher outlet. The scheme not only allows them to buy rice, oil and pulses, but also fresh fruit, vegetables, chicken, fish, and eggs, according to the statement.The GFFO has been a generous supporter of WFP Bangladesh and has now given it 6.5 million euros for food assistance in 2019, said WFP.
--IANS/AKI
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