52 victims. Christians on the front line of rescue efforts

The floods have affected more than 5.4 million people and more than a million families. Many homes have been destroyed, like that of Sumi Rani from Feni: “Everything we had has disappeared.” Despite the receding waters in some areas, the crisis continues in the south of the country. Christian organisations such as Caritas Bangladesh and the government have launched rescue operations. They are calling for urgent measures to combat climate change.

Dhaka () – Bangladesh is dealing with the consequences of the devastating floods that have hit a region inhabited by more than 5.4 million people. At a press conference, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, KM Ali Reza, reported yesterday that 1,072,579 families were still in areas covered by water. So far, 3,403 shelters have been set up to accommodate more than 500,000 people. The death toll from the flood has risen to 52: 39 men, 6 women and 7 children. The most affected districts include Feni, Comilla, Chittagong, Noakhali, Cox’s Bazar, Khagrachari, Brahmanbaria, Laxmipur, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sylhet. In Feni alone, 17 victims were reported, in Comilla 14 and in Noakhali 8.

I spoke to Sumi Rani, a 70-year-old Hindu woman from Feni whose story is one of the many tragic events of our time. When she returned home, Rani cried when she saw what had happened. The floodwaters had severely damaged the building, leaving it in ruins. Although there is little water left, food is scarce. “There is no rice at home, and no place to cook it. Our domestic animals died. Everything we had has disappeared,” she says. Rani lived with four members of her family in a mud-brick house with a thatched roof. When Feni flooded, her village was one of the first to be destroyed. She and her family were able to find a place in a nearby shelter, with the help of local people. She returned when the waters receded, but her house has become uninhabitable. The floor is soft, it sinks underfoot; only the roof and walls are still standing.

While the flood situation has improved in some districts in the higher areas, others remain badly affected. In the southern districts such as Noakhali, Laxmipur and Chandpur, conditions are still dire. Heavy rains and high tides have raised the water level in coastal districts such as Bagerhat, worsening the crisis. As the waters recede, the scale of the disaster is becoming clearer. Roads are impassable and many mud buildings have been washed away. Those who sought refuge in shelters are unable to return home and it will likely be a long time before normality returns to the affected areas.

Christian organisations are on the front line of the relief effort, providing vital aid to the victims. However, the scale of the disaster requires the continued support and solidarity of the global community. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated 400 million taka (more than 3 million Euros), 20,650 tonnes of rice and 15,000 food parcels. Caritas Bangladesh is actively working with the victims. Authorities reported that by 28 August they had been able to reach more than 20,000 affected people and plan to assist more than 80,000. Notre Dame College in Dhaka and the Bangladesh Catholic Students Movement (BCSM) have also launched several initiatives to help those affected by the floods.

According to experts, although the floods have begun to recede, severe shortages of food and clean water persist. As a result, there has been a significant increase in diarrheal diseases and other gastrointestinal problems. Respiratory infections such as fever, cold, pneumonia and an increase in skin diseases have also been reported. Without adequate intervention, these health problems could worsen. Many experts believe that more medical teams and volunteers are needed in the affected areas, as well as the establishment of adequate field hospitals.

The disaster underlines the need to step up efforts to deal with the impact of climate change. Permanent solutions to the problem of recurrent flooding should be the priority. This includes works to make rivers more navigable and allow runoff and stormwater to flow more freely. Otherwise, Bangladesh could face similar floods every year. Ainun Nishat, an expert on climate change and rivers, pointed to Bangladesh’s lack of preparedness to deal with flooding. “We should have acted when the heavy rains started around August 16, especially in the eastern region,” she said. “The forecast from the Indian Meteorological Department predicted heavy rains, but no one took action until it was too late.”