Heavy flooding in Bangladesh has been caused by heavy rains during the monsoon season and rivers bursting their banks. It has affected more than 5.2 million people and killed at least 20 people, according to reports on Sunday (August 25).
The rising waters have cut off many villagers, especially in rural areas, from the outside world. They need food, drinking water, medicine and clean clothes. Meanwhile, road closures have made rescue operations difficult.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the caretaker government of Bangladesh, said on television that the government is taking all necessary measures to alleviate the suffering of the people. The situation will return to normal as soon as possible.
Abdul Halim, a 65-year-old farmer from a village in Comilla district, said his mud house was swept away by 10-foot floodwaters in the middle of the night.
“We lack groceries and water. Hardly anyone has brought anything to help people in the village. You need to go out somewhere nearby. The main road itself to receive aid supplies,” he told Reuters in an interview.
There are rumours in Bangladesh that the floods are caused by India releasing water from a dam in Tripura state. The Bharat government has denied this as untrue.
“We have had discussions with neighbouring countries,” said Yunus, a Nobel Prize-winning economist who took over as prime minister after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted. “To prevent such floods from happening again.”
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has warned that the water situation could remain dangerous if the rains continue. Because the water level has been falling very slowly
More than 400,000 Bangladeshis have been evacuated to 3,500 shelters in 11 flood-hit districts. Authorities have sent nearly 750 medical teams to the area to provide medical treatment to villagers. Meanwhile, army, air force, navy and border guard units have also sent personnel to support the rescue mission.
World Bank Analysis The World Bank estimated in 2015 that 3.5 million people in Bangladesh are at risk of rivers bursting their banks each year. Scientists point to climate change as the main reason why natural disasters like these are likely to get worse.
Source: Reuters
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