Bangladesh

The UNDP Humanitarian Response Team stressed the need for immediate large scale food assistance for Chittagong Hill Tracts people now facing a severe food crisis following an invasion of rats on their Jhum (shifting cultivation) crops.

The team made the observation after taking part in a Joint Needs Assessment mission in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) from 8 – 12 April 2008.

After assessing the food security, livelihood and nutrition situation in the three hill districts- Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban, the mission, coordinated by UNDP’s Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility and supported by Humanitarian Response Team, emphasised on continuing food assistance for the next two to four years.

The mission also suggested for bringing diversification in livelihood of the CHT people as long term assistance to face food crisis, now a global phenomenon.

The loss of crops to rat invasion followed a massive flowering and fruiting of bamboo clusters recently. Hordes of rats have eaten most crops and Jhum plants in most areas of CHT creating a severe food crisis there.

Among others, Government line ministries (CHT Affairs, Food and Disaster Management, Environment and Forest and Agriculture) and partner agencies such as WFP, UNICEF, USAID, ADB, and Helen Keller International, joined the mission.