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The Australian Government will provide $2.2 million towards emergency relief and recovery efforts in communities in Bangladesh and Nepal affected by monsoon floods.
To assist relief efforts, Australia, through our international aid agency, AusAID, will contribute $1.6 million through the World Food Programme (WFP) for Bangladesh to meet immediate food needs and support recovery programs.
For Nepal, Australia will provide $500,000 through the WFP for food rations and $100,000 for relief operations of the Nepal Red Cross.
Flooding has affected nearly 40 million people across South Asia so far this season, which has been the worst in many years.
Some 7.6 million people in Bangladesh have been affected and 128 have died as a result of flooding from the Ganges-Padma and Brahmaputra-Jamuna Rivers. In Nepal, floods and landslides have affected over 330,000 people and caused 90 deaths.
This assistance is in addition to $2.5 million in humanitarian assistance already provided for Pakistan, in response to the combined effects of heavy storms and Cyclone Yemyin, in late June.
Australia will continue to closely monitor emergency needs across the flood zone and stands ready to provide further assistance if required.
Media contacts:
Malcolm Cole (Minister's Office) 02 6277
7500
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590