Floods in Bangladesh kill 44, leave a million stranded
Floods and landslides triggered by days of torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 44 people in southeastern Bangladesh and trapped more than a million people as authorities scrambled to deliver aid to devastated communities.
Floods in seven districts – Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Habiganj have disrupted daily life, isolated thousands of families and stranded 267,918 households, the disaster management ministry said on Saturday.
Power outages, damaged roads and broken communications links have slowed rescue and relief efforts. Many residents have been unable to cook for days as floodwaters submerged their homes, while others are struggling as their kitchens and living spaces are covered in thick mud.
Nurul Islam, who lives in the flood-affected area in Chattogram, said, “We still have water in our house and no cooking facilities. We have run out of dry food and since there is no electricity, we spend nights in the dark with our children.” he said.
Thousands of families are in need of emergency aid and dry food such as flattened rice, puffed rice or biscuits that do not require baking. But eroded roads and damaged bridges have made it difficult for aid workers to reach communities hardest hit by the crisis.
Army and navy personnel are transporting food, drinking water, medicine and other essential supplies to isolated communities by boat as authorities step up relief efforts.
“The government is doing everything possible to support flood victims. Relief, clean drinking water and medical supplies are being distributed and we urge people whose homes are submerged to move to the nearest shelter,” Minister of Disaster Management and Relief Iqbal Hossain said during his visit to the affected areas in Chattogram. he said.
Heavy rain also triggered landslides in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar earlier this week, killing 16 refugees, including women and children. More than a million Rohingya refugees live in camps with makeshift shelters on steep, deforested slopes that are particularly vulnerable during the monsoon season.
Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world; seasonal monsoon rains regularly cause floods, river erosion and landslides. Scientists say climate change is increasing the scale and severity of such disasters by making extreme precipitation more frequent and intense.
