With flood water receding, people's miseries mount in districts

Flood waters in Gaibandha and Sirajganj are receding but people's miseries are increasing, reports UNB

In Gaibandha, skin diseases caused by flood water are adding to the miseries of flood-affected people in char upazilas of Gaibandha. Water-borne diseases like diarrhoea are also a concern.

Kariman Begum in flood-hit Kharjanir Char of Gaibandha was sitting on a banana tree raft in front of her house hoping to get some relief.

"No one has come yet to see how we are surviving or what we are eating", she told the news agency about her ordeal.

Finding no other solution Kariman and her neighbours Halima, Motin Kobazzaman, Mithu Mia from the area said they are applying turmeric mixed with kerosene oil for a little relief from the constant itching.

"I can't find a moment of sleep due to the painful itching and fear that my seven-year-old son can get washed away by flood water any moment. As it happened to many other families," said kariman.

The authorities have claimed an adequate number of medical teams has been sent to the flood-hit region but none has yet shown up in the neighbourhood of Kariman yet

The drinking water crisis in this region is immense. "Even amid this situation of extreme crisis we have to pay boat fare to just bring drinkable water from across the river during daytime," said Kariman.

The Brahmaputra and Ghaghat rivers in Gaibandha were flowing a bit below the danger level though some others were receding on Sunday.

"Residents of 25 char unions including Kamarjani, Mollar Char, Kapasia, Haripur, Fazlupur, Uria, Ratanpur, Fulchhari of Sundarganj, Saghata and Gaibandha sadar upazilas remained stranded by flood water till Thursday," said Motiar Rahman, Chairman of Kamarjani union.

"Many houses have little dry place to cook food. They are shifting their stoves to rafts and they can't afford cooked meals three times a day. They don't even have any toilets," he said.

According to the authority, a total of 60 flood shelters have been opened in the district but people could take refuge in only 12 of them. For most of the centres are under water or threatened by river erosion.

"Many people are struggling with their only income source, cattle that could not be sheltered at the centers. Many have crossed the river with their cattle to save them," said the locals.

"So far only 135 people including men, women, and children have taken shelter in the centres. However, 125 tonnes of rice, Tk 0.6 million (6 lakhs), and another 1.5 million (15 lakhs) for buying baby food have been allocated for the assistance of flood-affected people in Gaibandha," said SM Foyez Uddin, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (in-charge).

In Sirajganj, the flood situation showed signs of improvement on Monday as the water level of the Jamuna River dropped.

"The river was flowing 65cm below the danger mark at Sirajganj point while 57cm below the danger level at Kazipur point on Monday morning", said Nasir Uddin, sub-divisional engineer (HQ) of Sirajganj Water Development Board.

He said that the water has receded from many houses in the flood-hit areas and water may recede from most of the low-lying areas in the next two to three days.

More than 50,000 people in 38 unions of 5 upazilas on the banks of the Jamuna River were stranded due to the flood.

With the flood water receding, the miseries of the residents of the char areas in the district have increased.

Besides, 9,500 hectares of cropland have been damaged due to the flood.

The flood survivors are crying for relief. Apart from facing a food crisis, they need pure drinking water, fuel and fodder.

According to district administration sources, 84 educational institutions have been shut due to the ongoing flood, hampering the studies of the students.

As water level in the Jamuna started to fall river banks erosion has taken a serious turn in many places in the district.

However, sand-filled bags were dumped at vulnerable points to protect the area from erosion.

Besides, 184 shelters have been opened for the flood victims and 23 medical teams have been formed to provide services round-the-clock.