CARE Bangladesh braces for flood response amid Covid-19

CARE Bangladesh has initiated response and recovery as it is working closely with the government functionaries to help it address the ongoing floods.
Heavy monsoon rains in the upstream regions and incessant onrush of water from upstream over the last weeks inundated 21 northern, north-eastern and south-eastern districts in Bangladesh affecting over 3.3 million people, a CARE press release said.
The flood situation is deteriorating at a time when many are still reeling from the shock of Cyclone Amphan that damaged houses, crops and infrastructure last May. The Covid-19 pandemic has made the situation even more challenging to respond. Many roads and bridges are cut off and hundreds of thousands of people are now stranded.
In some inundated locations, CARE has built drum raft to ensure uninterrupted mobility for people to move faster.
“To cross the canal, earlier we had to travel four kilometers. Now we can go to the other side by the new drum raft with our luggage, bicycles and other things. We are very happy to have this raft. It is very helpful”, said Abdul Karim, a villager from Gaibandha district.
With support from UNFPA, CARE distributed nearly 3,000 dignity kits to flood affected women and girls of reproductive age and the transgender community in Kurigram and Gaibandha districts.
About 1460 flood-affected households from Kurigram and Gaibandha were also given cash support and dignity kits with funding from USAID. These dignity kits are expected to protect these people from Covid-19 even when they leave home for flood shelters.
“Flood situation is worsening rapidly while waterborne diseases are spreading in some areas. People are already battered by Covid-19 and river erosion is taking devastating turn in some regions,” said Ramesh Singh, CARE Bangladesh Country Director.
“Given this prolonged flood, CARE is working persistently to meet the urgent needs during this humanitarian crisis”, said Kaiser Rejve, director, Humanitarian and Resilience Programme, CARE Bangladesh.