Chicago – August 29, 2024
Floods in central, eastern and southeastern Bangladesh have killed 23 people and affected more than 5.7 million. About 1.24 million families across 11 districts in the country of 180 million people are stranded, cut off from the rest of the country by floodwaters due to relentless monsoon rains and overflowing rivers.
As the floodwaters gradually recede, those affected are urgently in need of food, clean water, medicines and dry clothing. The situation is especially critical in remote areas like Haque’s village, which is not close to the district town and where blocked roads have severely impeded rescue and relief efforts.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, and about 3.5 million people are at risk of annual river flooding, according to a 2015 World Bank Institute analysis.
But this year’s floods caught many in the southeast off guard.
In flood-affected districts such as Feni, Cumilla and Lakshmipur – regions close to the Indian border – many are blaming India, which they said released water from the Dumbur Dam in the state of Tripura in the middle of last week. India has denied opening the sluicegates.
