The death toll from the deadly floods in 11 districts has climbed to 52 with 21 more deaths reported in Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali and Moulvibazar districts till Thursday (August 29).
Although the floodwater is gradually receding in the districts, thousands of families have lost their homes and properties. Houses of many people made of mud and corrugated tin have been completely destroyed. In such a situation, the most affected people are still in emergency shelters requiring aid.
The situation is especially critical in remote areas of the flood-hit districts as the remote villages are not close to the district towns and where blocked roads have severely impeded rescue and relief efforts. Alongside homes, those affected people in the remote areas are also urgently in need of food, clean water, medicines and dry clothing.
Over a million families across the 11 districts had been stranded, cut off from the rest of the country by floodwaters. Many of the families are still stranded.
The flood-hit districts are Feni, Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Cox’s Bazar, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sylhet.
According to the latest data of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, at least 52 people were killed in the ongoing flash floods caused by heavy rainfall and onrush of water from upstream. Around 10,72,579 families have been stranded in 68 upazilas of 11 districts amid the floods.
Among the deceased, 14 people died in Cumilla, six in Chattogram, 17 in Feni, eight in Noakhali, three in Cox’s Bazar and one each in Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur districts respectively. Among the 52 people, 39 are men, six are women and seven are children. However, one person still remains missing in Moulvibazar district.
Meanwhile, at least 5 lakh people have taken shelter in 3,403 shelter centres while 36, 448 domestic animals were kept there, according to data from the ministry.
A total of 595 medical teams are providing medical services to those hurt in the flood-hit areas.
So far, a sum of Tk. 4.52 crore has been allocated in the flood-stricken districts while 20,650 tonnes of rice, 15,000 pieces of dry foods or other foods and baby foods and fodder worth Tk. 35 lakh each were allocated, said the ministry.
KM Ali Reza, additional secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; provided the latest data on flooding at a press briefing on Thursday.
According to him, a total of 144,100 packets of dry food, clothes and water collected by the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement have been sent to the flood-affected areas through the Directorate of Disaster Management. Round-the-clock communication between the Directorate of Disaster Management and the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement continues.
Ali Reza said, “The deputy commissioners (DCs) of the flood-affected districts have been given the necessary instructions to coordinate with the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement; Army, Navy, Fire Service and Civil Defence, medical teams and other volunteers.”
He, however, said that the overall flood situation has improved in the country as water of the rivers has been on a receding trend. The information received from the Sylhet district shows the flood situation has improved significantly in the region.
About the cause of death, Sanzida Yeasmin, a deputy secretary of the ministry; in the press briefing of the ministry said that drowning, electrocution and snake bite are reasons for deaths of the people in the floods. Most of them drowned.
A full-time control room has been opened at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. The number 0255101115 is available for information and assistance.
Field hospitals have been set up in Feni to provide health services, while doctors from the Army and the district civil surgeon’s office are providing health care there. All authorities concerned are also instructed to take necessary steps to avoid waterborne diseases.
The heavy floods have added to the challenges of the Professor Dr Muhmammad Yunus-led new interim government that took charge this month after toppling of autocratic Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India following a student-led revolution.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, even though the flood situation has started to improve, there are areas where people are still trapped by water, with no modes of transport and communication available.
Rescue teams, including joint forces of Army, Air Force and Navy, are helping those forced from their homes and bringing aid to those who have lost everything. However, the joint force, local administration and volunteers still find it hard to reach remote areas since they don’t have enough boats.
It is known that the local administrations are struggling to reach remote areas because of logistical issues. The lack of coordination is causing a problem as well. In such a situation, many believe that an urgent plan is necessary to expand and streamline all such efforts to ensure smooth delivery of relief goods.
Shahina Akhter, deputy commissioner (DC) of Feni; said that they had received relief materials but could not reach the remote areas. “We are facing hardship to distribute relief in the remote areas as it was hard to reach the villages. However, we have begun distribution of rice in every ward. We have sent instructions to all UNOs so that the relief material could be distributed in remote villages,” she said.
The teams of armed forces in the districts have been trying their best to reach as many people as possible. They have air-dropped food packets in some areas. But many places remain inaccessible.
Government officials from Noakhali and Lakshmipur districts also said they are facing difficulties to distribute relief in the remote areas. “We have received rice and cash money for people affected by the flood but we are not able to distribute that in the remote areas due to a lack of boats,” said Mohammad Sarwar Uddin, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Kabirhat in Noakhali.
In many areas, people are falling sick and there is no access to first aid and basic medications. The risks of various water-borne diseases breaking out also remain a considerable cause for concern.
