Floodwaters recede, but hardships persist in Cox's Bazar

COX'S BAZAR, July 14: Shortages of safe drinking water, food and other essential supplies has been hampering recovery efforts after week-long monsoon rain, flash flood and landslides affected large parts of Cox's Bazar.

Some 32 people have died from either drowning or landslides triggered by rainfall amid inclement weather in the past ten days.

However, the weather is beginning to improve as floodwaters gradually recede across the district.

Residents say the humanitarian crisis is far from over. Sakib Hasan, a resident of Pekua, said floodwaters were receding but affected communities are now facing an acute shortage of safe drinking water.

Thousands of houses, educational institutions, religious establishments and agricultural lands have been damaged. Many families are struggling to clean mud-filled homes and begin rebuilding their lives, locals say.

The worst-affected areas include Chakaria, Pekua and the Matamuhuri region, where shortages of drinking water and food remain severe. Although the government has continued relief distribution, many residents say assistance is still inadequate compared with the scale of the disaster.

Mahiyuddin Rony, a resident of Kakara in Chakaria, said his family had remained stranded by floodwater for three days. Although the water has now started to recede, poor families are still suffering due to the lack of safe drinking water and food.

Local public representatives have also alleged that government relief allocations are insufficient to meet the growing needs of flood-affected communities. They called for additional food, drinking water and emergency assistance.

However, district authorities rejected the allegation, saying adequate allocations of rice, dry food and cash assistance have been distributed among all affected upazilas and that relief operations are continuing.

During a relief distribution programme in Chakaria on Sunday, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M. Iqbal Hossain said every flood-affected family would receive government assistance.

"We will continue providing all necessary support until the suffering of flood victims comes to an end. The government will ensure whatever allocation is required," he said.

He added that the government has already begun planning for post-flood rehabilitation, infrastructure repairs and the reconstruction of damaged homes.

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner M. A. Mannan said 69 of the district's 71 unions had been affected by the floods. Around 250,000 people remain stranded, while affected families have taken shelter in 648 emergency shelters across the district. Relief distribution, rescue operations and other humanitarian assistance are continuing, he added.

Since Sunday afternoon, rainfall has decreased significantly, allowing floodwaters to drain from low-lying areas in Cox's Bazar Sadar, Chakaria, Pekua, Kutubdia, Ramu, Moheshkhali, Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas. While movement has become possible on many major roads again, numerous homes, courtyards and rural roads remain waterlogged.

The sky remained cloudy, but no further rainfall was recorded. With weather conditions improving, Bangladesh Meteorological Department withdrew its earlier weather warnings. Calm conditions in the sea and rivers have also allowed passenger vessels to resume normal operations on both inland and coastal routes since Monday.

Nurul Islam, executive engineer of Cox's Bazar Water Development Board, said water levels in the district's hill-fed rivers had fallen below the danger level. However, he noted that tidal conditions were slowing drainage in some low-lying areas, thus waterlogging could persist for several more days.

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