Due to the extent of the flooding, there are areas that remain inaccessible. Photo: Latin Press.
More than seven million people in Bangladesh have been affected by devastating floods in nine districts in the north-east of the country, according to a statement by the United Nations Resident Coordinator.
In the meantime, The government relocated more than 472,000 citizens to 1,605 shelters and an estimated 7.2 million people have been affectedreflected the New Age portal this Friday.
The United Nations and partner organizations support the efforts the delivery of food aid, drinking water, cash, emergency medicine, hygiene kits and educational support to affected families.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) committed $2.8 million of its domestic resources to meet emergencies and provided assistance to nearly a million people, while the World Food Program distributed 85 tons of fortified biscuits to 34,000 homes.
The UN Population Fund helped pregnant women access hospitals and arranges midwives to provide 24-hour emergency obstetric care, and also operates waiting homes for pregnant women while they await institutional delivery.
The World Health Organization provided affected people with 250,000 water purification tablets.
NGOs are providing emergency response in the hardest-hit areas, including providing government-led monetary aid, clean water, shelter and sanitation.
But despite these efforts Due to the extent of the flooding, there are areas that are inaccessible and isolated from rescue or relief effortswhich is why many of the church elders are describing this flood as the worst of their lives.
In addition, around 60,000 women in the affected areas are pregnant and 6,500 of them will give birth in the next month.
With primary care centers flooded and non-functional, most of these women have limited or no access to health care.
Where the water has receded somewhat, more families will return to their damaged homes, while others will have to rebuild from scratch.and damaged latrines and water sources must also be repaired.
In turn, the children missed school for three weeks and their books were washed away, compounding the loss of schooling due to COVID-19-related school closures.
(With information from Prensa Latina)