Helping the flood-hit people
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
THE flood water has started receding from northern, eastern and north-eastern districts leaving a trail of devastation there. It is now repeating the same act in the middle part of the country affecting the life of millions and destroying standing crops and other physical infrastructures. The flood-hit people are leading a miserable life with virtually no food, shelter and medical care. According to the latest estimate, over 10 million people in 38 districts have been affected and standing crops of about 0.5 million hectares of land fully damaged by the current flood. Extensive damage has been caused to Aus and broadcast Aman and seedlings for transplanted Aman and vegetables in the flood-hit areas. However, the actual damage caused to life and properties would be available only when the entire country comes out of the grip of the floods.
But reports coming from the affected areas, particularly from northern districts, do portray a grim picture. The poor and low-income people are finding it hard to manage food, shelter and safe drinking water. There is no denying that the people of Bangladesh have learnt to live with floods and, in the past, they proved to be resilient enough to overcome the odds of natural calamities. Yet the situation this year is considered to be different from the past. For, the people are really hard-pressed by soaring prices of most daily necessities. They are now seriously worried about their survival in the post-flood period.
This year there were enough prior indications about the possible visit by a flood and the media had forewarned the government about such a possibility. The administration had claimed that it was adequately prepared to handle any situation. But the government's relief operation so far, according to reports in the media, have been inadequate and scanty particularly in the context of huge requirements for relief and succour. There is also an urgent need for coordination of relief operations. However, it is not possible on the part of the government alone to handle the gigantic task of reaching relief materials to all the flood-hit people or rehabilitating them. In a clear departure from the past practice, political parties, socio-cultural and humanitarian organisations are yet to engage themselves in relief and rehabilitation work in the flood affected areas. This could be due to the prevailing political atmosphere of the country. But is it proper on the part of the political parties and other concerned not to respond to the call for help from the suffering humanity for political reasons?
The Chief Adviser in a nation-wide address Sunday evening over the electronic media appealed to all to extend their help to the flood-hit people and mitigate their sufferings. He also referred to the constitution of a national disaster management council to handle the flood situation properly. The major political parties having their extensive network even up to the grassroots do need to come in aid of the people affected by the flood. Since these parties do very often claim that the main objective of their politics is to work for the welfare of the people, they should not have waited for anyone's permission or appeal for extending their helping hands to the flood-hit people. But there are a few practical difficulties for political parties to mobilise funds and other resources for relief operations since the ongoing anti-corruption drive has thrown their hierarchies, particularly those of two major parties, in total disarray. If the administration does really want the active involvement of these parties in relief operations, it should devise some means to help the political entities engage in relief works. Meanwhile, the government which is yet to seek outside help for the flood victims might consider approaching the donor community for food aid. It should also ask the agencies concerned to immediately draw plans for proper rehabilitation works in the agricultural, roads and highways and water development sectors. The most vulnerable sections of the population might require support for their survival for a few months in the flood-hit areas and the administration should be ready to extend that.
But reports coming from the affected areas, particularly from northern districts, do portray a grim picture. The poor and low-income people are finding it hard to manage food, shelter and safe drinking water. There is no denying that the people of Bangladesh have learnt to live with floods and, in the past, they proved to be resilient enough to overcome the odds of natural calamities. Yet the situation this year is considered to be different from the past. For, the people are really hard-pressed by soaring prices of most daily necessities. They are now seriously worried about their survival in the post-flood period.
This year there were enough prior indications about the possible visit by a flood and the media had forewarned the government about such a possibility. The administration had claimed that it was adequately prepared to handle any situation. But the government's relief operation so far, according to reports in the media, have been inadequate and scanty particularly in the context of huge requirements for relief and succour. There is also an urgent need for coordination of relief operations. However, it is not possible on the part of the government alone to handle the gigantic task of reaching relief materials to all the flood-hit people or rehabilitating them. In a clear departure from the past practice, political parties, socio-cultural and humanitarian organisations are yet to engage themselves in relief and rehabilitation work in the flood affected areas. This could be due to the prevailing political atmosphere of the country. But is it proper on the part of the political parties and other concerned not to respond to the call for help from the suffering humanity for political reasons?
The Chief Adviser in a nation-wide address Sunday evening over the electronic media appealed to all to extend their help to the flood-hit people and mitigate their sufferings. He also referred to the constitution of a national disaster management council to handle the flood situation properly. The major political parties having their extensive network even up to the grassroots do need to come in aid of the people affected by the flood. Since these parties do very often claim that the main objective of their politics is to work for the welfare of the people, they should not have waited for anyone's permission or appeal for extending their helping hands to the flood-hit people. But there are a few practical difficulties for political parties to mobilise funds and other resources for relief operations since the ongoing anti-corruption drive has thrown their hierarchies, particularly those of two major parties, in total disarray. If the administration does really want the active involvement of these parties in relief operations, it should devise some means to help the political entities engage in relief works. Meanwhile, the government which is yet to seek outside help for the flood victims might consider approaching the donor community for food aid. It should also ask the agencies concerned to immediately draw plans for proper rehabilitation works in the agricultural, roads and highways and water development sectors. The most vulnerable sections of the population might require support for their survival for a few months in the flood-hit areas and the administration should be ready to extend that.