Helping out the flood victims

The flood situation in the areas washed by the major rivers of the country is still deteriorating in the central districts. However, the water levels in the big rivers, according to the latest indication by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), are expected to fall within the next two or three days.brMeanwhile, the supply of relief materials to the tens of thousands of people in the flood-hit districts has been inadequate. The worst fear is that the acute shortage of drinking water in the flood-affected districts may lead to spread of water-borne diseases. brOn its part, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), has estimated that various crops including jute, vegetables and rice, especially transplanted Aman and Aus under 168, 000 hectares of land in 18 flood-hit districts have gone under water. The DAE has further feared that if the water does not recede in the next two or three days, it will inflict further damage to the transplant Aman. It has, however, assured all concerned that it would supply fresh seedlings of transplant Aman to the affected farmers immediately after the flood waters start receding and expressed hope that there would be time for transplantation if the flood water recedes by September 15. brWhat is the flood situation on the ground All over the country, the rivers rose at 30 points, decreased at 39 points and were flowing over danger levels at 24 points on Saturday compared to Friday, according to the FFWC. However, what is reassuring about all these grim forecasts by FFWC in the major rivers of the country is that the rise in water level will continue only for the next couple of days followed by improvement in the days ahead. While pinning our hopes on the forecasts that the situation may not aggravate further after the next two or three days, it is necessary to take stock of the damage already done to the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people uprooted from their shelters by the flood. They are being forced to live under inhuman conditions at the temporary shelters or under the open sky. Hunger, diseases and various other natural enemies have been making the lives of the flood victims unbearable. The worst sufferers among the flood-hit people are the women, children and the old people of the affected areas. One can easily imagine their condition in absence of adequate help from the administration as well other philanthropic bodies.brSo the responsibilities on the authorities are dual. First they will have to save the lives of the people uprooted by the flood and also by the river erosion related to it. And as soon as the flood starts receding, they will have to start rehabilitating the people dislocated from their home and hearth. However, the authorities will not get much time to perform these dual tasks, once the flood water starts to recede. For side by side with the rehabilitation work, the transplantation of the damaged Aman rice will also have to begin. So, the authorities will be faced with some hectic days ahead to help the people of the affected districts to cope with the flood and re-start their lives as soon as possible.brThe affected farmers will be in double jeopardy. The flood has destroyed their homes, crops and the livestock. To restart their lives in full swing after the flood, the lost assets will have to be replenished. So, given the limited scope of the rehabilitation programmes, proper management of the assistances already rendered will be the most crucial part of the resettlement drive for the flood victims. To start heir farming activities afresh, the flood-affected farmers will also need help in cash. So, the banks and the various credit programmes run by the government and non-government organisations (NGOs) will have to extend necessary credit to the affected farmers so that they might stand on their own feet and brace for the hard days ahead.