Flood situation in the country’s southeastern districts Cumilla, Noakhali and Lakshmipur is improving gradually while it has improved in the northeastern district Moulvibazar.
Besides, the flood situation in Chattogram, Feni, Khagrachhari, Habiganj, Sylhet, Brahmanbaria and Cox's Bazar districts remained normal today, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief this afternoon.
The death toll from the devastating flood remained unchanged as no new casualty was reported in the last 24 hours, it said, adding that so far 59 people, including 41 male, six female and 12 children, have died.
Among the deaths, 14 were reported from Cumilla, 23 from Feni, six from Chattogram, nine from Noakhali, one each from Khagrachhari, Brahmanbaria, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur and three from Cox's Bazar districts.
Besides, one person remained missing in Moulvibazar district.
The flood-affected districts are - Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox's Bazar.
Besides, people are returning home from shelter centers as the country's overall flood situation has improved significantly. Road communication has become normal in flood-affected districts.
According to the release, around 54 lakh people were affected by the flood in 504 unions and municipalities under 68 upazilas in 11 districts in the country.
About 7.05 lakh families remained stranded while over 3.5 lakh people are still staying in 3,870 shelter centres.
Now, 510 medical teams are providing medical services to the affected people in the flood-hit districts.
Regarding relief efforts, Taka 4.52 crore in cash, 20,650 metric tonnes of rice and 15,000 packets of dry food, Taka 35 lakh for baby food and Taka 35 lakh for cattle feed have been allocated for the 11 flood-hit districts.
However, 1,59,400 packets of relief materials including dry food, clothes and drinking water collected by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement were sent for the distressed humanity in the flood-hit areas through the Department of Disaster Management (DDM).
A total of 2,92,625 packets of relief materials and 21,650 packets of cooked meals were distributed among flood victims by armed forces.
Some 42,886 people have been rescued and health services have been provided to 32,256 people. Out of them 153 people were rescued by helicopter and were given treatment.
A total of 24 camps and 18 medical teams run by the armed forces provided treatment in flood-affected areas. Drinking water, water purification tablet, clothes, medicines, baby foods and sanitary items were also distributed.
Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the flood-hit areas have been instructed to work in coordination with the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, Fire Service and Civil Defence, medical teams and other volunteers.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief's control room remains open 24/7 for providing information. The control room's number is- 0255101115.
All authorities concerned have been asked to take necessary measures for preventing waterborne diseases in the post-flood period.
Besides, field hospitals have been prepared in the flood-hit districts while physicians from army and district civil surgeon offices are providing healthcare services there.
On the other hand, as floodwaters recede in Feni, waterborne diseases have surged, affecting many, particularly children, with diarrhea, dysentery, stomach pain, fever, and skin infections.
The sudden rise in patient numbers has overwhelmed medical services, leading to a shortage of hospital beds. At Feni Sadar Hospital, patients were seen lying on verandas and even stairs due to overcrowding.
To combat the situation, 14 health camps have been established across the district to provide medical assistance to flood victims, said Feni Deputy Commissioner Shahina Akhter.
A visit to the 250-bed Feni General Hospital on Saturday at 2 pm revealed the diarrhea ward, which has only 18 beds, was hosting eight times its capacity. As of Saturday, the hospital reported 297 cases of waterborne diseases, including 114 children and 183 adults.
Dr Asif Iqbal, the hospital’s Resident Medical Officer, said, “Post-flood diarrhea cases are on the rise, especially among children, likely due to contaminated water and food. We have arranged additional floor beds for these patients.”
Laila Akhter, from Matiganj Upazila, brought her 11-year-old daughter to the hospital after she fell ill from drinking tank-stored water following the flood. “Water entered our home, and we had to seek shelter at a neighbor's house. Unfortunately, my daughter started vomiting and experiencing diarrhea afterward,” she shared.
Kamrun Nahar, who has been at the hospital since Thursday with her 2-year-old son, said her child contracted a waterborne disease despite her efforts to boil water before use.
Dr Arnab Mallik, a Medical Officer at the hospital, added, “We are doing our best to accommodate all patients, even with limited resources. However, the situation is overwhelming for both doctors and nurses.”
Civil Surgeon Dr Shihab Uddin assured that hospitals will provide free treatment to flood victims until further notice. Additionally, a special team of 30 doctors has been dispatched to Feni to support local healthcare efforts.
