Ensure supply of food, clean water in flood-hit areas

In recent days, continuous heavy rainfall in India's Tripura state and Bangladesh's eastern regions has led to one of the most devastating floods in memory, affecting nearly 11 districts, with the people of Feni and Cumilla being hit the hardest. The catastrophe has prompted a commendable response from various quarters, including students, the general public, government agencies, non-government organisations, and service-oriented groups. Together, they have mobilised to support flood victims, providing essential relief items such as dry food, clean water, sanitary napkins, baby food, medicines, and other necessities.
Despite these collective efforts, the vastness of the affected areas has rendered the supply of food and clean water difficult to meet the overwhelming demand. This shortage is a cause for grave concern, as the lack of clean water, in particular, poses a severe threat to public health. The risk of deadly waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea and cholera, looms large, potentially compounding the crisis if urgent action is not taken.
Therefore, it is imperative that the relevant service organisations and authorities take immediate and decisive action to ensure the prompt and adequate delivery of essential supplies, especially clean water and food, to the flood-affected areas. Additionally, the local administration and health departments must intensify their health monitoring efforts, deploying resources and personnel to prevent the outbreak of diseases and provide medical care where necessary.
The people of Bangladesh have shown remarkable resilience in the face of this disaster, and with the continued, coordinated efforts of all involved, there is hope that the nation will soon overcome this crisis. However, this will require sustained commitment and collaboration from all sectors of society to ensure that those most in need receive the support they deserve.

Robiul Chokder
Student, Department of Statistics
Dhaka College, Dhaka
[email protected]