A humanitarian organisation on Wednesday distributed food assistance among 1,000 vulnerable families in two union councils of Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria upazila under a Saudi-funded relief programme aimed at supporting low-income and marginalised communities facing economic hardship.

The aid distribution programme was organised by ISDE Bangladesh in the Laksharchar and Surajpur-Manikpur union councils, where 500 families in each union received food packages during separate daylong events.

Organisers said the programme was funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center as part of its ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts in Bangladesh. Indigenous groups, ethnic minorities and families from different religious communities were also included among the beneficiaries.

At the Laksharchar Union Parishad event, local representatives and officials including Union Parishad Secretary Kawsar Jannat Kumkum, Panel Chairman Shahidullah, and several elected members attended the distribution programme.

Reserved women members Rokeya Begum Baby, Shiuly Akter and Sayra Khanam were also present.

A similar programme was held at Surajpur-Manikpur Union Parishad in the presence of local officials, including Union Parishad Secretary Erfan Uddin, members Abdul Hamid and Manjur Alam, and reserved women representatives Khurshida Begum, Saleha Begum and Basu Rani Swarna.

Speakers at the events said the initiative was taken to support families struggling with rising living costs and food insecurity. They added that similar humanitarian assistance programmes for disadvantaged and marginalised communities would continue in the future.

ISDE Bangladesh Programme Coordinator Jahangir Alam said the organisation has been conducting food assistance operations in different areas as part of its social and humanitarian responsibilities.

He said cooperation from local authorities and public representatives helped ensure that assistance reached genuine beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries expressed satisfaction after receiving the aid. Local resident Sultana Begum said the support would greatly help her family amid rising household expenses, while beneficiary Ranjit Tripura welcomed the inclusion of people from all communities in the programme.

ISDE officials said the organisation had previously distributed food assistance among around 31,000 beneficiaries in remote host communities and Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

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