YPSA Cash support During Pandemic, A lifeline for a mother in Ukhiya

Cox Gazette | Coxs Desk August 31, 2021, 11:45 PM YPSA Cash support During Pandemic, A lifeline for a mother in Ukhiya

YPSA has been implementing a project namely COVID-19 Affected Rohingya and Host Communities Response Project in Cox’s Bazar; Bangladesh with support of Solider Suisse from February 2021. Due to COVID-19 or Coronavirus, people’s lifestyles have been changed with so many negative impacts. Poor and ultra-poor are suffering much because their income source has been stopped or affected.

Many people sold their productive assets only to buy food and meet urgent family needs. Some people’s productive assets become unworkable. On that time to provide financial support to the poor and ultra-poor families in the host communities, YPSA and Solider Suisse have taken the project for three Wards (5, 6, 7) of Rajapalong Union of Ukhiya Upazila, Cox's Bazar. In these three Wards, two category supports were initiated.

Conditional Cash Transfer-CCT and Unconditional Cash Transfer-UCCT respectively. Unconditional cash support for the ultra-poor (elderly, widowed, sick, disable, extremely poor etc.) and conditional cash support for poor people who lost their productive assets due to Covid-19 especially. YPSA selected 1000 families for conditional support and 1170 for unconditional support. In the 2nd wave of COVID-19 the situation became more complex.

Government declared a strong lockdown alternatively shutdown to control the spreading of Coronavirus. We have seen during the first wave of COVID-19 many charity foundations even some people personally extended their helping hands to poor and marginalized people. But in the 2nd wave the rate of assistance has dropped significantly. For this entire connection, poor people are in so many difficulties even with managing their everyday 3 time meals indeed.

Again YPSA and Solidar Suisse extend their project. This time planned to cover another three wards of Rajapalong Union 1, 3, 4 and from the old 5, 6 and 7 with 2700 beneficiaries. CCT – 1000 and UCCT- 1700 by a project Covid-19 Affected Rohingya and Host Communities Economic Recovery and Response Project in Cox’s Bazar; Bangladesh. Following all procedures, rules and regulation: YPSA selected 2700 beneficiaries from 6 wards. During pandemic situations YPSA distributes cash support through bKash to the selected beneficiaries.

On 26 August Md. Arifur Rahman; Chief Executive of YPSA was present during the MMT and observed the distribution at west Degholia under 4 no wards of Rajapalong Union; Ukhiya. He distributed UCCT through bKash among some beneficiaries and visited some houses and talked with the beneficiaries.

He Expressed satisfaction and thanks to all those related with the process of MMT. He especially thanked the community people, leader and local representative for their outstanding support to the project to make smoother and transparent interventions to the community for the wellbeing of the beneficiaries.

Mohammed Shahidull Islam; Asst Director and Head of Rohingya Response Program, Jishu Barua; Programme Coordinator, Rohingya Response Program, Afra Nawar Rahman; Intern- Social Development, YPSA , Enayet Mowla; Finance Manager, Cox’s Bazar and Mostaq Ahmed; Project Coordinator, COVID-19 Response Project were present as Chief Executive’s Tour companion.