Floods in southeastern Bangladesh have already left nearly 60 dead and nearly 5.5 million affected

Aug. 31 (EUROPA PRESS) –

At least 59 people have died as a result of the massive flooding caused by heavy rains that have devastated a dozen towns located mainly in Chattogram, in the south-east of the country, but also in other places such as Sylhet, affecting more than 5.5 million people.

The worst-affected districts include Comilla, with 14 confirmed deaths, Noajali and Cox’s Bazar, home to one of the world’s largest refugee camps, and Chattogram, in the division of the same name.

Authorities have set up more than 3,400 shelters to accommodate more than 393,305 people and 36,450 livestock, while more than one million people remain trapped, The Daily Star reports.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has launched the shipment of 20,560 tonnes of rice and 15,000 food parcels, while releasing an initial budget allocation of 4.52 million taka (about 34,200 euros) to deal with the crisis.

According to the latest update, the number of people affected by the floods has risen to 5,457,702 people, while 696,995 families remain trapped by the water.

According to the ministry, 504 unions and municipalities in 68 upazilas in the 11 districts of Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox’s Bazar have been submerged by the floods.