Bangladesh relief efforts expand amid devastating floods
BRAC’s relief efforts continue as dire flooding in Bangladesh keeps millions stranded. Discover the latest on our Bangladesh flood relief.
BY SARAH ALLEN
Afrin Jahan’s life turned upside down when a sudden flash flood swept through her village, Porkora. Midday on Thursday, August 22, the roof of her fragile home collapsed under the force of sudden rising water. She was left with no alternative but to evacuate — fast.
The news from Bangladesh is harrowing. The worst flooding in three decades has claimed at least 27 lives, and left 1.2 million families stranded. And 5.6 million people are in dire need of help.
Some of the people we’ve met have lost everything — homes, crops, livestock. Others have remained in homes with knee-deep water. Too many are stuck in communities that are entirely cut off from aid, as flooding ruins roadways.
Afrin says she was terrified. Totally unfamiliar with such a situation and gripped by panic, her only concern was her children’s safety. Desperate to protect her two-month-old baby girl, she wrapped her in a plastic bag to shield her from the floodwaters. Holding her nine- and four year-old children tightly, she waded through the water to a nearby madrasa, where other families also sheltered. Exhausted, malnourished, and traumatized, Afrin now confronts an uncertain and precarious future.
As women like Afrin grapple with one of the most severe flash floods in decades, BRAC is scaling up its relief efforts amid damaged infrastructure and a disrupted mobile network.
In addition to the immediate needs, long-term needs are mounting. The floods have caused extensive damage to the region’s agriculture, with over 840,000 acres of crop fields under water. The livestock and fisheries sectors have suffered losses amounting to $167 million, deepening the economic blow to communities already struggling to make ends meet.
The immediate needs of the affected population remain critical. BRAC’s first responders say that people urgently need temporary shelters; food, including baby food; safe drinking water; emergency medical support; hygiene kits; and food for their livestock.
BRAC’s response: Bangladesh flood relief
BRAC has mobilized extensive resources, allocating $250,000 of its own funds and deploying a team of 5,000 local staff to deliver life-saving relief. Moving by boats, tractors, trucks, and even by foot — often wading through waist-deep water — our staff are dedicated.
“My colleagues and I heard that a very remote area nearby, Satbaria, had not had relief,” notes Rima Akter, a BRAC worker in Comilla. “So, we collected 800 packets of relief items, and on Friday, we rushed there. The affected area is all under water. We got right in the water, and delivered BRAC relief from door to door. From dawn till night, Friday and Saturday, we brought help to the endangered people. The people were so happy to see us. It is the best feeling to help them.“
BRAC has deployed seven medical teams, including seven medical officers and 21 paramedics. Working across five severely affected districts, these teams are providing urgent health care services.
BRAC has distributed 35,000 dry food packets to affected families, with a goal to reach 50,000 households with food support. BRAC is also delivering 2,250, ten-liter jars of drinking water in Cox’s Bazar. And a River Osmosis mobile water treatment plant has been transferred from Cox’s bazar to Mirershorai, to provide safe drinking water.
Recognizing the critical need for hygiene products, BRAC is also distributing 13,230 sanitary napkin packets, made possible through a partnership with Square Toiletries.
In Lakshmipur and Moulvibazar, BRAC will distribute over 15 tons of cattle feed to support local farmers.
BRAC has also launched a rapid needs assessment to ensure that additional assistance is provided where it is most needed. To keep communities informed, life-saving awareness messages are being broadcast through three community radio stations.
Flood appeal: How you can help
With the help of our generous donors, we’re making real progress to support families in need: But the scale of the disaster means that the need for support is far greater.
Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of families impacted by these devastating floods. Join us in our relief efforts by donating to BRAC’s emergency response fund.
Every contribution, no matter how small, can help provide essential supplies and services to the millions of people who need them most.
The people of Bangladesh are resilient, but they need our help now more than ever. Together, we can ensure families receive the aid they need to rebuild and recover from this catastrophic event.
Global appeal for Bangladesh flood donations
BRAC has launched a global appeal for donations to support families as they navigate the crisis. Make your secure online gift to support people in need today. Donors based in Bangladesh can make donations here.
- $635 will help a family rebuild their house
- $340 will help repair a damaged tube well
- $340 will aid the reconstruction of a latrine
- $20 can support a family’s most basic needs for two weeks
Sarah Allen is Communications Manager at BRAC USA.