Educo Bangladesh scales up support to more than 13,500 families

Educo Bangladesh, a child rights organisation, has recently supported more than 13,500 families as part of its emergency response during the Covid-19 crisis.

According to a press release it issued, Educo Bangladesh distributed food and hygiene kits – in addition to food packages to marginalised families in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj as well as deprived people living in brothels in the Rajbari and Faridpur districts.

Educo Bangladesh also gave humanitarian support to 9,269 families of Moulvibazar's Haor area and tea gardens. A total 2,290 families from the Dhaka North and South City corporation have received Tk1,000 through bKash to help with their daily needs, the press release said.

Abdul Hamid, Country Director of Educo Bangladesh said, "Like many countries of the world, children and their families from the most vulnerable backgrounds in Bangladesh are at higher risk of infection of Covid-19."

"This is high time to think and act collectively to protect these families and children from the negative impacts of the pandemic," Abdul Hamid added.

Educo Bangladesh has previously supported around 8,000 families and children as their first step in Covid-19 response – either through cash or food support and hygiene supply kits.

Educo has also distributed food packages and hygiene kits to 313 families in the Haor area and hygiene packages to 8,956 families living in tea gardens in Moulvibazar, the press release added.

Nazmul Haque, Executive Director, Institute of Development Affairs (IDEA) said, "We didn't just distribute hygiene kits to the tea garden communities but also taught them [the community members] about hygiene practices and child protection aligned with the current situation."

Educo is a global development non-governmental organisation present in Bangladesh since 1999. The organisation acts on behalf of children to defend their rights – particularly their right to receive quality education.