Authorities in Bangladesh are battling the spread of waterborne diseases and scrambling to keep drinking water available to people after last week’s devastating floods that have killed at least 54 people and left hundreds of thousands stranded.
The floodwaters are slowly receding, but many people are still stranded and in urgent need of food, clean water, medicine and dry clothing, especially in remote areas where rescue and relief efforts are being hampered by blocked roads.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said flood conditions could persist if monsoon rains continue as water levels are receding very slowly.
Officials said nearly 470,000 people have taken refuge in 3,300 shelters in 11 flood-hit districts, where about 600 medical teams are helping provide treatment, and the army, air force, navy and border guard forces are assisting in rescue operations.
An official from the Disaster Management Ministry warned that there was a risk of an epidemic once the flood waters receded, and that waterborne diseases were likely to spread if clean water was not made available soon.
“Our top priority is to ensure availability of safe drinking water,” the official said.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services, nearly 3,000 people have been hospitalised in the last 24 hours due to waterborne diseases in flood-affected areas. Many areas have been inundated, making it difficult for stranded people to reach health facilities.
“Water is everywhere, but there is no clean water to drink. People are getting sick,” said Farid Ahmed, a resident of Lakshmipur, one of the worst-affected districts.
Agriculture Ministry officials said huge areas of land were inundated, posing a major threat to crops.
The United Nations children’s agency has warned that two million children are at risk as eastern Bangladesh is hit by the worst flooding in three decades, and has launched an urgent appeal for $35 million to provide lifesaving supplies.
“The devastating floods in eastern Bangladesh are a tragic reminder of the continuing impact of extreme weather events and the climate crisis on children,” said Emma Brigham, UNICEF Bangladesh Deputy Representative.
A 2015 analysis by the World Bank Institute estimated that 3.5 million people in Bangladesh, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, are at risk from annual river flooding. Scientists blame climate change for the rise in such devastating events.
Farah Kabir, director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said countries like Bangladesh, which contribute the least to global emissions, urgently need funding to recover from climate damages and build resilience to future impacts while pursuing a green growth path.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
