Miller visits flood affected Gaibandha to observe US assistance
US Ambassador Earl Miller met with families in Madhya Khatiamari village receiving emergency relief from a US government-funded programme
The United States Ambassador to Dhaka, Earl Miller, visited Madhya Khatiamari village in Gaibandha along with some government officials to observe the country's assistance to those affected by floods.
Miller spoke with families receiving emergency assistance provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), including cash grants and emergency hygiene kits, according to a press release issued today.
He was accompanied by local administration officials from Gaibandha district and Fulchari upazila, and representatives from CARE Bangladesh and SKS Foundation who are administering this emergency assistance programme.
During a stop at a relief distribution site, they visited a homestead raised on an earthen plinth, a platform built after the 2019 floods as part of USAID's 'Shouhardo III' programme. Over 1,500 homesteads including homes, livestock pens, and household gardens were raised above flood levels on such plinths last year. Today, these homeowners' properties were protected from the flooding, and the homeowners were able to take in neighboring families whose homes were flooded.
"The United States is proud to work with the government of Bangladesh to help provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the flooding," said Ambassador Miller.
"This assistance is another example of the enduring ties between the United States and Bangladesh and our wonderful partnership with CARE and the SKS Foundation," he added.
The US government, through USAID, has provided more than $7 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971.
Additionally, to date, the US government has contributed over $56.5 million from multiple agencies to support Covid-19 response efforts.
In 2019, USAID alone provided over $200 million to improve the lives of people in Bangladesh through programmes that expand food security and economic opportunity, improve health and education, promote democratic institutions and practices, protect the environment, and increase resilience to climate change.
