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A landscape of devastation uncovered

Flood-hit people need rehabilitation


Published : 31 Aug 2024 10:27 PM

The overall flood situation is improving in the country’s northeast and southeast regions as water recession continues in many rivers till Saturday. 

But, the deluge left a trail of devastation in the country’s northeast and southeast regions.

The flood uncovered a landscape of widespread devastation dotted by shattered homes, educational institutions, business establishments and other infrastructures, washed-out farmlands and broken roads.

However, the flood situation in Feni witnessed a modest improvement with water levels receding in several upazilas of the district. Most families have begun to return home from shelters. 

“Flood took away everything. Our houses, crop lands, fish ponds, and poultry and livestock farms have been destroyed. We are now destitute. We know nothing how we will be survived,” Jahid, a resident of Nayanpur Village of Feni told this correspondent.     

The recent deluge has battered 495 unions under 65 upazilas in Feni, Cumilla, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Chattogram, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet and Lakshmipur districts. 

Although the situation shows signs of improvement but the miseries of tens of thousands of people in the affected areas are far from over.

Many people returned home from the various institutional shelters and saw their houses were completely destroyed in the flood.

Besides, a large numbers of houses are still waterlogged while croplands under threat of severe river erosion.

In Comilla, there has been a considerable improvement in the flood situation, with water levels starting to decline. However, flood situation in three upazilas has not improved yet as around 76,000 people are still living in shelters.

In Noakhali, there has been no further rise in water levels; however, the encroachment of canals has caused a slowdown in drainage, resulting in knee-deep water in many locations, affecting houses, shops, and roads.

As people slowly return from shelters, there has been an increase in waterborne diseases and snake bite cases. Flood-affected individuals are struggling with transportation issues, food scarcity, lack of fresh water, and inadequate sewage and cooking facilities.

The worst-affected families are worrying over a return to normal life as they remain stranded far from home in makeshift shelters.

Inadequate government relief and crises of food and drinking water have compounded their woes.

On the other hand, the death toll from the recent flood in 11 districts has risen to 59 with five more deaths till Saturday, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry said on Saturday.

So far, the floods have claimed 14 lives in Cumilla, six in Chattogram, 23 in Feni, nine in Noakhali, three in Cox’s Bazar and one each in Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur districts respectively. Among them, 41 were male, six female and 12 children.

As many as 54,57,702 people have been affected by the flood in 504 unions and municipalities under 68 upazilas in 11 districts.

A total of 6,96,995 families remained stranded in the flood currently while 3,93,305 people are staying at 3,928 shelter centres. A total of 36,139 heads of cattle were also given shelter there.

The road communications have started to improve in some flood-hit areas while the authorities concerned have been asked to take necessary steps to control the outbreak of water-borne diseases after recession of flood water.

Prices of rice, lentil and vegetable have gone up in the affected areas as crops on vast swathes of land got damaged.

Many affected people alleged that relief provided by the authorities was insufficient to meet their daily needs so that their sufferings have mounted.

The affected people are passing days in extreme misery amid an acute crisis of food and pure drinking water and the spread of waterborne diseases.

Secretary of Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Kamrul Hasan said, “The destruction of infrastructure and the emergence of disease outbreaks are common occurrences following the recession of water. We are currently evaluating the situation and communicating with all relevant ministries, which will formulate plans and implement necessary actions accordingly.”  

“Our efforts in post-flood rehabilitation are being conducted with a focus on coordination. The primary objective is to restore the roads to a condition that is safe for vehicular traffic,” he added. 

Earlier, the Chief Adviser instructed all concerned particularly the field level administration to took prompt measures to ease sufferings of the flood affected people.