Flood situation in Sylhet
Saturday, 26 June 2010
The flood situation in Sylhet district is getting worse by the hour. As I write this letter, about ninety percent of the district has gone under water. All the schools have been closed, for obvious reasons, and people have taken shelter in them.
In Osmaninagar, some eighty families have taken refuge in three primary schools and one high school. Flash floods triggered by massive rain have worsened the situation in Jokiganj.
Thousands of people are trapped in their homes. Water has entered many houses. Those who were already worse off to begin with have had their misery compounded. This has happened because the water level of the rivers Kushiyara and Surma have risen dangerously.
Although relief work is going on in many places, much more needs to be done. This is why I would request the government as well as private citizens to come to the aid of flood affected people of Sylhet.
The political leadership, of all parties, must take up this challenge and gear up relief distribution (now) and rehabilitation (later, after the flood has subsided). The time of action is now because rhetoric will be of little use.
Abdul Baset
In Osmaninagar, some eighty families have taken refuge in three primary schools and one high school. Flash floods triggered by massive rain have worsened the situation in Jokiganj.
Thousands of people are trapped in their homes. Water has entered many houses. Those who were already worse off to begin with have had their misery compounded. This has happened because the water level of the rivers Kushiyara and Surma have risen dangerously.
Although relief work is going on in many places, much more needs to be done. This is why I would request the government as well as private citizens to come to the aid of flood affected people of Sylhet.
The political leadership, of all parties, must take up this challenge and gear up relief distribution (now) and rehabilitation (later, after the flood has subsided). The time of action is now because rhetoric will be of little use.
Abdul Baset