Feni Correspondent :
A rapid assessment by Oxfam in Bangladesh has uncovered the staggering impact of the recent floods in Feni and Noakhali, the hardest-hit districts. The assessment shows that over 90% of the population has been severely affected, with nearly all shelters submerged, 48% destroyed, and 100% of sanitation and water facilities rendered unusable.
As floodwaters slowly recede, the full scale of the destruction is becoming increasingly apparent. With the loss of livelihoods, food insecurity is a growing concern, with 72% of affected families only able to eat twice a day, often insufficiently. The sanitation crisis is particularly dire, with open defecation becoming commonplace due to destroyed facilities, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases.
Hosne Ara Begum, a 38-year-old Feni district’s resident, recounted her harrowing experience: “We spent days on the roof, with no food or clean water. The toilets were underwater, and we had no privacy. We had to use a saree (cloth) to cover and defecate on the roof. We’ve been sick, but there’s no other option. This flood has taken everything from us.”
As relentless monsoon rains and rising river levels continue to batter Bangladesh, the country faces one of its most severe flooding crises in recent history. The catastrophic floods began in August 2024 and have submerged vast areas across 11 districts, including Feni, Cumilla, Chittagong, and Sylhet, displacing over 500,000 people and affecting more than 5.8 million. With infrastructure, homes, and agricultural lands extensively damaged, communities need immediate and sustained support.