Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), the North American development and peace agency, is providing a 10-day supply of food for 5,050 families caught up in the post-flood crisis in Bangladesh.

The recipients will be selected by nine MCC partner agencies in three flooded districts — Sirajganj, Bogra and Nilphamari.

“As the hours tick by, the needs are mounting,” wrote Jerry Shank, an MCC representative in Bangladesh, in 6 August communication – writes Pearl L. Sensenig of MCC.

The food, valued at US$50,000, is Mennonite Central Committee’s initial emergency response to the floods. Staff in Bangladesh continue to assess the situation and plan for longer-term projects.

Seasonal floods are currently affecting millions of people in Bangladesh, Nepal and India, destroying homes, spreading waterborne diseases and claiming hundreds of lives.

In Nepal, MCC is providing about US$21,000 to the Nepal Christian Relief Services to assist about 1,650 people who have fled the flooding in Nepal’s southern plains region. The project will provide food, clothing, blankets, soap, mosquito nets and other necessities.

In India, MCC is assessing needs and consulting with partner agencies.

Financial contributions for MCC’s response may be made online at mcc.org/donate. They should be designated ‘South Asia Flood Response’.