At least 23 people have lost their lives, and 5.7 million others have been affected by devastating floods in Bangladesh, triggered by relentless monsoon rains and overflowing rivers. Officials reported on Monday that many of the affected people, especially in remote areas, are isolated and in urgent need of food, clean water, medicine, and dry clothing. Blocked roads have further hampered rescue and relief efforts.
The floods have stranded approximately 1.24 million families across 11 districts. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has warned that flood conditions may persist if the monsoon rains continue, as water levels are receding very slowly.
Around 470,000 people have sought refuge in 3,500 shelters within the flood-hit districts. Authorities have deployed around 650 medical teams, with assistance from the army, air force, navy, and border guards, to provide treatment and carry out rescue and relief operations.
The agricultural ministry has expressed concerns about significant crop damage if floodwaters continue to submerge large areas of land for an extended period. The impact on agriculture could be devastating for the region, further exacerbating the crisis.
Bangladesh, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, has long been at risk of severe flooding. A 2015 analysis by the World Bank Institute estimated that 3.5 million people in Bangladesh are at risk of annual river flooding. Scientists attribute the worsening of such catastrophic events to climate change.
Farah Kabir, director of ActionAid Bangladesh, emphasized the need for immediate funds to address the impacts of climate change and frequent disasters. “Countries like Bangladesh with negligible emissions and whose people have shown super resilience deserve immediate funds to recover from the losses and damage we have faced, as well as build resilience to future impacts and take on green development pathways,” she said.
In one of the hardest-hit districts, Noakhali, 56-year-old Shukuri Begum lost her home when it was swept into a pond by the floodwaters. Terrified, she fled with her grandchildren to a neighbor’s house, but they couldn’t stay there long as it was no longer safe. “I have a son with physical disabilities, and we couldn’t bring him with us. We had to stack beds and leave him on top, hoping he would be safe. I don’t know what’s waiting for us,” she told ActionAid.
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