|| Cox's Bazar Correspondent: Five hundred flood-affected families in Shilkhali Union of Pekua Upazila received emergency food assistance on Saturday as part of a broader humanitarian initiative targeting 5,000 vulnerable households across the flood-hit upazilas of Chakaria, Pekua and the newly formed Matamuhuri in Cox's Bazar district.The relief operation is being implemented by the non-governmental organization ISDE Bangladesh with financial support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) of Saudi Arabia.According to the organization, the program aims to provide immediate food support to low-income families struggling to recover from the recent floods that disrupted livelihoods, damaged homes and left thousands facing food insecurity.Each beneficiary family received a food package containing 10 kilograms of rice, 7 kilograms of lentils, 3 liters of soybean oil, 3 kilograms of sugar and 1 kilogram of salt. The organization said the assistance is intended to help families meet their urgent nutritional needs while they rebuild their lives.The distribution ceremony in Shilkhali Union was attended by Union Parishad Chairman Kamal Uddin, social worker Rezaul Karim, and Jahedul Karim, proprietor of S.K. Fisheries. Representing ISDE Bangladesh were Program Coordinator Md. Jahangir Alam, Upazila Manager Jalal Uddin, Project Officer Supom Barua, Project Officer (Meal) Mostak Ahmad, and Logistics Officer Taj Uddin, among others.Speaking at the event, Chairman Kamal Uddin said many families had lost their homes, assets and sources of income due to the floods, leaving them in severe financial hardship. He noted that humanitarian assistance from development organizations complements government efforts and plays a vital role in reducing the suffering of disaster-affected communities.Program Coordinator Md. Jahangir Alam said supporting flood victims is a shared humanitarian responsibility. He added that food assistance is being distributed in phases to 5,000 families across Chakaria, Pekua and Matamuhuri upazilas, with beneficiaries selected through coordination with local authorities and elected representatives to ensure aid reaches those most in need.Recipients expressed gratitude for the support, saying the floods had sharply reduced household incomes and made it difficult to secure daily meals. They said the food packages would provide much-needed relief and ease concerns about feeding their families over the coming days. ISDE Bangladesh also highlighted its wider humanitarian work in Cox's Bazar, stating that it has previously provided food assistance to 56,500 beneficiaries, including members of host communities in remote areas, flood-affected residents and Rohingya refugees living in camps. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to continuing relief efforts to strengthen food security for communities affected by natural disasters.