WFP provides food aid to families affected by fire in Karail slum
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today provided emergency food assistance to families affected by the devastating fire that swept through Korail slum on November 25. From BTCL Girls' High School, near the affected area where hundreds of families have taken temporary shelter after losing nearly all their belongings, WFP - in close collaboration with Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Dhaka North City Corporation and in partnership with Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO) - distributed High Energy Biscuits (HEBs) to 1,900 families, a WFP release said here today.
Each family received a five kg carton of High Energy Biscuits (HEBs) - a ready-to-eat product fortified with essential vitamins, minerals, protein, and carbohydrates. HEBs require no cooking or water and are light and compact, making them ideal for emergency situations. Today's distribution will help families meet approximately three days of nutritional needs.
The biscuits are also widely used in Bangladesh's school feeding programmes that WFP has been assisting since 2001. In 2024 alone, WFP responded to Cyclone Remal and multiple floods, reaching 2.8 million people with emergency food, cash, and recovery assistance. "Following today's distribution, WFP will continue to coordinate with local authorities and humanitarian partners to monitor the situation and stands ready to provide additional assistance if needed," said Simone Parchment, WFP Country Director.
