DHAKA, April 29, 2020 (BSS) – Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade (DFAT) has joined collaboration with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) to assist the Bangladesh government in fighting COVID-19
crisis.
With the support from the Australian government, UNDP will provide
technological support to the government for expanding social support through
a2i programme, a UNDP press release said.
In addition, 20,000 poor people will receive cash or in-kind support
delivered through UNDP’s existing projects in Chittagong Hill Tracts, North
Bengal and Coastal region.
Moreover, four city corporations, including Dhaka South, Dhaka North,
Chottogram and Narayangang, will receive 5,000 Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) kits for urban waste cleaning workers.
In highlighting its support, High Commissioner in Dhaka Jeremy Bruer said
Australia has been working with UNDP since 2011 to support the government of
Bangladesh develop and implement its national social security strategy.
“The strategy aims to build an inclusive social security system to help
address poverty and inequality. This work is even more important as we work
together with Bangladesh to respond to COVID-19,” he said.
Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Senior Secretary Md Shah Kamal
said: “UNDP has always been a trusted partner for Bangladesh both in crisis
and broader development. I am delighted that the Australian government and
UNDP have come together to support the Bangladesh government’s nationwide
effort to fight COVID-19 on health, social and economic fronts.”
Senior Secretary of the Local Government Division Helal Uddin Ahmed
stressed the importance of the safety of the CVOVID-19 frontline fighters.
He said the role of urban cleaning workers is not just important for
cleanliness of the cities but also fight any public health crisis like COVID-
19.
“Our ministry has been providing PPEs for the protection of the cleaning
workers. This additional support from UNDP and the Australian government will
further intensify our efforts. I believe as citizen we also have a moral
responsibility to stand beside this marginalised group of people,” Helal
said.
Highlighting the importance of dual vulnerability of climate change and
COVID-19, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Ziaul Hasan said:
“We provided multiple supports to the Forest Conservation Groups as part of
our effort to promote resilient livelihoods in the coast of Bangladesh”.
“But their products now can’t be sold due to market disruption. Therefore,
the support will help them to sustain their consumption. I am sure, we will
gain valuable lessons to fight climate change and pandemic together in future
from this join effort,” he added.
Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, stressed the
need for an expanded Social Protection during the current COVID19 crisis.
“Our development partnership with Australia is long-standing and even
during this crisis, we appreciate their critical and timely support as social
protection has become a vital response measure to help many low income
communities weather the impacts of the pandemic,” he said.
“Under the renewed partnership, we will have the opportunity to help the
government to reach out to many households whose livelihoods and incomes have
been disrupted making them the ‘new poor’, and bring them within social
safety nets,” he added.