In this July 25, 2020 file photo, a man is seen on a boat after his house was flooded as the flood situation worsened in Munshiganj district on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. (PHOTO / AGENCIES)
HONG KONG — The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Wednesday that it released HK$66.78 million (about US$8.61 million) in the year 2019/20 to support relief organizations in providing emergency relief to the victims of disasters that occurred outside Hong Kong.
The grants were disbursed from Hong Kong's Disaster Relief Fund to 18 programs carried out by nine relief organizations, including Oxfam Hong Kong, Hong Kong Red Cross and Save the Children Hong Kong.
The grants were disbursed from Hong Kong's Disaster Relief Fund to 18 programs carried out by nine relief organizations, including Oxfam Hong Kong, Hong Kong Red Cross and Save the Children Hong Kong
They provided relief to typhoon and flood victims in the Chinese mainland, Malawi, Mozambique, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Philippines. The number of beneficiaries was estimated to be around 470,000.
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To cater for the different needs of the victims, a wide range of relief items had been distributed through the relief programs, including food, quilts, hygiene and household items and temporary shelter materials and tools, as well as education kits.
From the feedback gathered by the relief organizations, the victims were very grateful for the timely assistance provided by the Disaster Relief Fund, the HKSAR government said.
The Disaster Relief Fund is replenished by the HKSAR government at the start of each financial year and, as necessary, during the financial year, depending on the calls for relief and the size of the Fund balance and commitments.
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