Flood-affected people in Ctg need urgent care

The flood affected people in Chattogram must be attended immediately with all kinds of relief materials.

Thousands of people who are passing nightmarish time surrounded by floodwater all around them in Chattogram and Badarban districts are seriously suffering a shortage of drinking water and food.

More disturbing is the fact that people are still counting dead bodies there. On Monday, three bodies came floating in floodwater totaling the casualties to 22 people.

These deaths reportedly occurred due to flash floods, landslides as well as snake bites.

When floods occur people suffer in two phases: first as they are hit by onrush of water they immediately need safe shelter, food and drinking water.

Secondly, once flood waters recede, they are attacked by water-borne diseases including diarrhoea and skin diseases.

People in Chattogram are passing this first phase but local authorities including district administration did little to address plights of hundreds of people who were still stuck on their rooftops, awaiting relief, particularly drinking water.

As reported in a daily yesterday, more than 56,000 people still could not return to their houses as they stayed in over 4,100 flood shelters opened in the division.

More than one million people were affected by floods in the area as heavy rainfalls began on August 4 and continued for several days together.

Rainwater came rushing to habitats of people from the hills raising rivers by up to four metres.

Before the army deployed, relief materials could not be reached to the affected people.

As the army started their work things improved a little in this regard in Cox’s Bazar as they reportedly had distributed 37,500 pieces of water purifying tablets and 5,000 litres of water among the affected people.

More is needed to be done, not just in Cox’s Bazar but in all affected places in the division.

Once the flood waters recede and people return to their homesteads, they will be in need of various supports for their rehabilitation.

Their damaged houses need to be repaired or constructed anew and for this the poor people must be provided with cash support.

Moreover, the public health department must also be ready to give health checkup and essential medicines to people who will suffer from various diseases in the aftermath of floods.