Cyclone-hit people face severe water crisis
Saturday, 24 November 2007
SHARANKHOLA , Nov 23 (UNB): Cyclone-hit people are now facing severe water crisis in the upazila as the disaster has destroyed all the sources of pure drinking water.
People of the coastal upazila, the southern-most of the district in the vicinity of the Sundarbans where the cyclone hit first, usually keep fresh water in ponds during the rainy season so that they can use it for rest of the year.
"But this time, water of all the ponds and reservoirs has been contaminated as 15-17 feet high storm surge rolled over the upazila during the cyclone," said a resident of the upazila while UNB Bagerhat Correspondent Bishnu Prasad Chakravorty visiting the affected area Thursday.
Besides, a few tube wells, another source of drinking water, had been set up in the coastal upazila where the surface water is salty. Those tube wells were also damaged during the cyclone.
Meanwhile, water-borne diseases are spread fast across the upazila as people are forced to drink contaminated water.
Around 0.13 million people are living in the upazila of four unions -- Rayenda, Khontakata, Southkhali and Dhansagor. Relief distributors are unable to supply adequate quantity of potable water to the affected people, according to local people.
Some 635 people were killed by cyclone and storms surge only in Sharankhola upazila alone, according to official count, whereas the unofficial death figure is over 1,500 and over 3,000 people are still missing in the upazila.
"I have lost eight members of my family. Only my mother and I are alive but we are not getting drinking water anywhere," said Selim Mollah, a resident of remote Dakkhin Southkhali village.
"My 7-year old daughter Lima is passing days without water. She is crying but I've nothing to do, as I am totally undone. She has been suffering from dysentery after drinking contaminated water," said Asma Akter of remote Bogi village, around 12 kms away from Sharankhola Upazila headquarter.
Asma lost her husband, one child and brother-in-law in the cyclone.
Meanwhile, army personnel have installed a water plant in Sharankhola upazila headquarter to provide water to the affected people. But this can supply water in the upazila headquarter only.
Medical camp of army, NGOs, Navy and Coastguard members are providing medical treatment to the affected people suffering from water-borne and other diseases.
People of the coastal upazila, the southern-most of the district in the vicinity of the Sundarbans where the cyclone hit first, usually keep fresh water in ponds during the rainy season so that they can use it for rest of the year.
"But this time, water of all the ponds and reservoirs has been contaminated as 15-17 feet high storm surge rolled over the upazila during the cyclone," said a resident of the upazila while UNB Bagerhat Correspondent Bishnu Prasad Chakravorty visiting the affected area Thursday.
Besides, a few tube wells, another source of drinking water, had been set up in the coastal upazila where the surface water is salty. Those tube wells were also damaged during the cyclone.
Meanwhile, water-borne diseases are spread fast across the upazila as people are forced to drink contaminated water.
Around 0.13 million people are living in the upazila of four unions -- Rayenda, Khontakata, Southkhali and Dhansagor. Relief distributors are unable to supply adequate quantity of potable water to the affected people, according to local people.
Some 635 people were killed by cyclone and storms surge only in Sharankhola upazila alone, according to official count, whereas the unofficial death figure is over 1,500 and over 3,000 people are still missing in the upazila.
"I have lost eight members of my family. Only my mother and I are alive but we are not getting drinking water anywhere," said Selim Mollah, a resident of remote Dakkhin Southkhali village.
"My 7-year old daughter Lima is passing days without water. She is crying but I've nothing to do, as I am totally undone. She has been suffering from dysentery after drinking contaminated water," said Asma Akter of remote Bogi village, around 12 kms away from Sharankhola Upazila headquarter.
Asma lost her husband, one child and brother-in-law in the cyclone.
Meanwhile, army personnel have installed a water plant in Sharankhola upazila headquarter to provide water to the affected people. But this can supply water in the upazila headquarter only.
Medical camp of army, NGOs, Navy and Coastguard members are providing medical treatment to the affected people suffering from water-borne and other diseases.