Raj is an eight-year-old boy from Bangladesh, a country that faces multiple challenges such as poverty, inequality, natural disasters and climate change. He was born with a congenital heart defect that requires surgery. He lives in a slum with his parents and two sisters, who struggle to make ends meet.

Raj often goes hungry and feels dizzy and breathless. He cannot run or play like other children his age. He needs to have his operation soon, but his family cannot afford it. They barely have enough money to buy food or pay rent. They have no savings or insurance.

Raj receives a monthly cash transfer from WFP, which his mother uses to buy rice, lentils, eggs and milk for him. WFP provides cash assistance to over 100,000 people in Bangladesh every month, as part of its urban resilience programme. Cash assistance not only improves the food security and nutrition of the beneficiaries, but also gives them more choice and flexibility to meet their needs and preferences.

Raj enjoys eating the food that his mother buys for him, which helps him to gain weight and strength. He also likes to go to school, where he learns new things and makes friends. He hopes to have his operation soon and recover fully. He says that he wants to be healthy and happy.

Raj's story is one of hope and gratitude in the face of adversity. It shows how WFP's cash assistance can help improve the lives of people who live in urban poverty and vulnerability. It also shows how WFP's work is not only about providing food, but also about providing dignity and opportunity.