UNICEF has expressed deep concern as over 2,000,000 people, including over 772,000 children, are affected by devastating flash floods in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh.
The flood-affected people are in urgent need of assistance, the UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh Sheldon Yett said in a statement on Friday.
"As waters rise, children are the most vulnerable, facing heightened risks of drowning, malnutrition, deadly waterborne diseases, trauma from displacement, and potential abuse in overcrowded shelters," said the UNICEF representative.
"Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of children and adolescents," he said, adding that in coordination and partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and local stakeholders in the field, the UN agency has already distributed safe water to reach more than 100,000 people for over 5 days, and while these efforts continue, we have also distributed more than 3,000 ten-liter water containers.
Mr. Yett further said in the statement, "We are urgently bringing in additional emergency supplies to the affected communities in case the situation worsens.
While schools are closed for Eid vacation from 13 June till 2 July, over 810 government schools in the Sylhet division have been flooded and almost 500 are being used as flood shelters, he stated.
In addition, almost 140 community clinics are also affected by flood waters, the UNICEF representative added.
"Child Protection Social Workers are offering support to mitigate potential violence and counseling to help children overcome trauma during this difficult time," he said.
The rivers are flowing dangerously high, and the situation is expected to worsen over the next 24 to 48 hours, Mr. Yett mentioned.
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