WFP provides emergency food aid to Korail fire-hit families

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday provided emergency food assistance to families affected by the devastating fire that swept through the Korail slum on Tuesday (25 November).

According to a WFP media statement, the agency - in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Dhaka North City Corporation, and partner organisation Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO) - distributed High Energy Biscuits (HEBs) to 1,900 affected families.

Each family received a 5-kg carton of HEBs, a ready-to-eat food fortified with essential vitamins, minerals, protein, and carbohydrates. 
The biscuits require no cooking or water and are lightweight and compact, making them suitable for emergency situations. The assistance is expected to help families meet roughly three days of nutritional needs, UNB reports.

WFP has been operating in Bangladesh since 1974, supporting millions through emergency response and resilience-building programmes. HEBs are also widely used in the country's school feeding programmes, which WFP has been supporting since 2001.

In 2024 alone, WFP responded to Cyclone Remal and several floods, reaching 2.8 million people with emergency food, cash, and recovery assistance.

"Following Friday'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.