Fatal Floods: 20 Dead, 5 million Affected in Bangladesh

The South-Asian country of 170 million has been dealing with a catastrophic event this week. Bangladesh fell victim to fatal floods that have affected millions of people. The country has been subjected to many natural disasters like floods and cyclones, especially in the recent years due to the ruinous ramifications of human- induced climate change. As a matter of fact, Bangladesh is believed to be one of the countries most at risk to the climate crisis.

Floods prove fatal

The floods have had disastrous effects on the country, particularly in 11 districts, including Chittagong, Comilla, Feni, Chattogram, Sylhet and Habiganj. The floods have claimed the lives of at least 20 people, including a pregnant woman. Over 300,000 people have been stranded and left without any access to clean water, proper clothes, food, and other essential commodities.

The disaster has also led to power being cut off for thousands of Bangladeshis, who have been left without any means to communicate with anyone; they have been left at the mercy of rescue operations that have to locate them organically. Even the highways and some railways have been destroyed and become inaccessible to vehicles. Moreover, the flooding has rendered the Dhaka- Chittagong highway useless, which has left hundreds of truckers stranded and threatens supply chains and businesses.

Abdul Halim, a 65-year-old farmer in Feni has been one of those acutely impacted as his hut was swept away by a 3-metre-tall surge. He has also been going hungry for 2 days due to the lack of food. Peyari Akhter, whose sister and her sick 1-month-old are also among the stranded victims in Feni, has been trying to rescue them. “I’m worried the baby won’t make it”, she said while stating the need to take the infant to a doctor.

Rescue operations underway

While the floods seem to be receding- albeit slowly, the threats are far from gone. The government has expressed its fear of the death toll climbing in the next few days. In many disaster-stricken areas, citizens have been seeking asylum is makeshift shelters.

Many people have been trying to reach their family members in the flooded villages. Yasin Arafat travelled from Dhaka to rescue his family but could not reach them in the village as he was unable to secure a boat (which has become the last resort to travel in the flooded areas). The water levels are too high to travel by road. Many people, though, have risked water- bone diseases and other dangers to walk in the chest-high murky and unsanitary waters to reach safety.

Faruk-e-Azam, the Minister of Disaster Management has stated that the rescue operations are underway. The army, air force and navy have joined forces to meet the dire need of aid provision. The floods have proved to be another problem for Bangladesh whose Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’ Interim Government already had an abundance of challenges to deal with in the wake of the political unrest and uprising which forced former PM Sheikh Hasina to flee.