TL;DR
- Flooding in Bangladesh has affected 11 districts, resulting in 13 deaths and impacting 4.5 million people.
- 887,629 families are currently without access to clean water due to the floods.
- 1,88,739 individuals have taken refuge in shelters, with government aid including cash, rice, and dry food.
- Rescue efforts are underway by the military, police, and volunteers to assist those affected.
In a devastating turn of events, severe flooding has swept across 11 districts in Bangladesh, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals and affecting approximately 4.5 million people. The flooding has left 887,629 families without access to clean water, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Kamrul Hasan, provided these figures during a press conference held at the secretariat shortly after noon today. The affected districts include Feni, Comilla, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Khagrachari, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj.
The death toll is distributed as follows: four fatalities in Comilla, three in Cox’s Bazar, two in Chittagong, and one each in Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, and Brahmanbaria. Despite the grim statistics, there is a glimmer of hope as the Meteorological Department forecasts a slow improvement in the flood situation, according to Kamrul Hasan.
In response to the crisis, 1,88,739 people have sought refuge in emergency shelters. The government has allocated 35.2 million in cash, 20,150 metric tons of rice, and 15,000 packets of dry food to assist those affected by the floods.
The disaster response efforts are being bolstered by the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Fire Service, Police, and volunteers from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. These teams are actively engaged in rescue operations, providing critical support to the flood-affected communities.
The situation remains dire, with extensive damage reported in areas like the Burburiya region of Sholanal Union in Comilla’s Burichong Upazila, where a dam breach at 12:30 pm on Thursday led to the flooding of 15 villages.
As the nation grapples with this natural disaster, the focus remains on providing immediate relief and ensuring the safety and well-being of those impacted by the floods. The government’s coordinated efforts and the resilience of the affected communities will be crucial in overcoming this challenging period.
