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Up to 200,000 Rohingyas at risk from monsoon rains in Bangladesh
Geneva, May 1 (IANS) The UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) on Tuesday said that up to 200,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, including 55,000 children, are at risk from the imminent monsoon, including pre-monsoon rain and storms that have already hit refugee camps in Cox’s Bazaar.
Rohingya children were at greater risk of contracting infectious diseases as the monsoon season hits Bangladesh in June and stays on till September, Efe news cited Unicef as saying.
“We estimate that more than 100,000 people, including approximately 55,000 children, are at risk due to floods and landslides. It’s possible that this figure could go up to 200,000 people depending on the intensity of rains,” Unicef spokesperson Christophe Boulierac said in Geneva.
Lack of sanitation and hygiene, coupled with injuries can impact children whose immune systems are already weakened by acute malnutrition, said Boulierac.
He added that a recent mapping of 7,727 tubewells showed that almost half (47 per cent) of them and nearly one-third of public toilets were at risk of being affected by floods and landslides.
“At least three of the 24 health centres supported by Unicef are at risk of flooding during the monsoon, which could affect between 25,000 and 30,000 refugees, more than half of them children,” Boulierac added.
Unicef is building five additional diarrhoea treatment centres — one of which was already open while two will open towards the end of this week and another two around the end of May.
The organisation had also built 10 health facilities that can attend to around 250,000 Rohingyas, said Boulierac, adding that they were working along with the Bangladesh government and the World Health Organisation to begin a second round of cholera vaccination, covering some one million refugees.
Unicef and its partners had a capacity to treat 35,000 children below the age of five, said the spokesperson, adding that they also set up five mobile units that can reach remote areas and keep “essential nutrition supplies in large stock” ahead of the imminent monsoon season.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.