Due to the early onslaught of the Monsoon Rains in the region there
is heightened concern about he risk of serious flooding as the monsoon
season advances. Monsoon floods and related diseases have already
killed at least 11 people in Bangladesh. Torrential rains coupled
with the onrush of waters from up-stream Assam in India have worsened
the flood situation in the country. Most low-lying areas of the capital
city Dhaka and Rangpur, Nilphamari, Sirajganj, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat,
Satkhira, Jamalpur, Manikganj, Gaibandha, Sunamganj and Netrokona
Districts are flooded. The water levels in major rivers including
the Bramaputra and the Meghna continue to rise while incessant rains
are causing suffering and hardship to the people. According to media
reports, there have been about 27cm of rainfall over the past three
days, about 20 percent of the field crops have been damaged and thousands
of people, especially poor families in the low-lying river areas,
are hard hit. The most severely affected people have been moved to
safer places.
The Meteorological Department and Bangladesh Water Development Board
experts predict that the flooding will worsen due to heavy rainfall
expected in July in Ganga-Padma, Brammaputra-Jumuna and the Meghna
river basin. The rainfall during July is being influenced by one to
two seasonal depressions in the Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh is likely
to experience massive flooding in the middle or third quarter of July
when the monsoon will be in full fury. (The 3-month monsoon period
in Bangladesh lasts until the middle of September).
Bangladesh’s authorities ordered disaster officials on ‘full alert’
on 7 July and the next day – 8 July - authorities began supplying
food and other essential items to flood victims. Potable water and
water purification tablets were distributed to try to stop the spread
of diarrhoea and other flood related illnesses.
ACT partners in Bangladesh have been monitoring the situation closely
for some time and are now taking further actions.
Although still flowing below the danger level, the major rivers in
ACT member Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) working area
in the north west - Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla - are in high spate
with the onrush of water from neighbouring India. RDRS staff have
conducted a rapid survey of the damage and needs and have planned
for emergency assistance to marooned people. RDRS will be submitting
a Rapid Response Appeal for the amount of USD 50,000 to the ACT CO
after discussion/liaison with other ACT partners in Bangladesh. RDRS
is also co-ordinating with other RDRS/ACT partners in its working
area in the north.
Though none of ACT member Christian Commission for Development
in Bangladesh (CCDB) projects has been severely affected by flooding
till now, there is every possibility that floods will affect projects
at Chapainawabgnaj, Pabna and Manikganj if the weather does not improve
within the next few days. CCDB is keeping a close watch on the situation
and will keep the ACT CO informed of any change.
CCDB and RDRS are in contact with the other ACT members in Bangladesh
as well as with the Government and Non-Government Organisations. Neither
the Government agencies nor Association of Development Agencies in
Bangladesh (ADAB) have yet convened a meeting with NGOs regarding
the situation.
