The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has aired concern about 80,000 community members in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox's Bazar as they have lost their income and possessions to the devastating floods that have swept the town since July 27.
Nearly 2,500 vegetable gardens have been partially or fully damaged and 140 trees knocked down, raising concern about soil erosion and further landslides caused by what residents describe as the heaviest rainfall in more than 10 years, it said on Wednesday.
"The Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing lockdown have already left millions of people across the country unemployed and struggling to make ends meet," said Manuel Marques Pereira, IOM deputy chief of mission in Bangladesh.
"Many managed to recover through different livelihood opportunities offered by the humanitarian community but are now forced to start again from zero," he continued.
Rapid urbanisation of both Teknaf and Ukhiya may have led to the obstruction of the natural drainage system, causing rainwater to accumulate rapidly leading to flash floods.
The IOM has been supporting local cyclone preparedness programme volunteers to disseminate early warning messages on landslides and evacuation since the monsoon rains began, reaching over 175,000 people living in 244 vulnerable areas across Cox's Bazar district.
The local administration quickly opened the cyclone shelters where thousands of displaced families have since taken refuge. They are currently being assisted with relief items, protection and medical support.
The IOM's livelihoods programme provides host community members with different types of income-generating activities.
Since 2017, nearly 11,000 host community members have accessed livelihood opportunities, and more than 6,000 Rohingya refugees have received self-reliance services.
Many community members have now lost all their livelihoods and assets in floods, including livestock, fisheries and crops, and are in need of immediate recovery support.
More than 3,000 people who received livelihoods support face thousands of dollars in losses.
The IOM assessment teams conducted an emergency needs assessment in Teknaf to better understand the immediate and midterm impact of the floods on the lives and livelihoods of host communities.
The assessment highlighted immediate need to rebuild damaged houses, latrines, bathing sheds and roads in the affected villages, and the need for multipurpose cash grants to recover people's belongings.
Urgent support is required to help host community members affected by floods as well as for the refugees currently residing in camps in Cox's Bazar.
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