THE flood situation is aggravating as the water levels in major rivers and their tributaries in the north and northeast are still rising or not showing enough sign of slow down. Government has ignored flood warning only to be caught unguarded by scarcity of arrangement to save affected people. Over 100 people have so far drowned and several lakhs marooned in most places like Lalmonirhat, Patgram, Thakurgaon, Sunamgonj living on few embankments with their livestocks. Even people from West Bengal have taken shelter in some parts of Bangladesh as this flood has affected the entire regions such as Nepal, northeast Indian state of Assam, Bihar and other areas. We are glad that border guards are allowing the distressed people from across the border to enter the country.
But shortage of food, medicine and pure drinking water, besides cash in hands to buy food is forcing most affected families in Bangladesh to starve. More acute is the sanitation problem. A serious humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the affected areas but enough government response to mitigate the problem is not in sight. Vast swath of land in 20 districts is already severely affected and some more are at high risks.
The administration has so far distributed limited quantity of puff rice and from 30 to 40 tonnes of rice in most of the affected districts. But any estimates suggest it is not enough to feed 30 to 40 thousand families for one day. How will people survive more days as many of the flood victims are in temporary shelters for past five to six days?
If enough fund is not available for relief what is the usefulness of such funds in the hands of the government. The cry for help is everywhere in the affected areas and news report said whenever people see some boats hoping the area carrying relief, they rush to stop the boats only to be disappointed.
The flood affected people are living in miserable conditions. The local authorities also admit that much more needs to be done. The leaders in Dhaka appear busy with senseless personal politics. To them the people do not matter.
But shortage of food, medicine and pure drinking water, besides cash in hands to buy food is forcing most affected families in Bangladesh to starve. More acute is the sanitation problem. A serious humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the affected areas but enough government response to mitigate the problem is not in sight. Vast swath of land in 20 districts is already severely affected and some more are at high risks.
The administration has so far distributed limited quantity of puff rice and from 30 to 40 tonnes of rice in most of the affected districts. But any estimates suggest it is not enough to feed 30 to 40 thousand families for one day. How will people survive more days as many of the flood victims are in temporary shelters for past five to six days?
If enough fund is not available for relief what is the usefulness of such funds in the hands of the government. The cry for help is everywhere in the affected areas and news report said whenever people see some boats hoping the area carrying relief, they rush to stop the boats only to be disappointed.
The flood affected people are living in miserable conditions. The local authorities also admit that much more needs to be done. The leaders in Dhaka appear busy with senseless personal politics. To them the people do not matter.
