More than one million people in Bangladesh and north-eastern India
have been stranded by monsoon floods.
On behalf of ACT members in Bangladesh Christian Commission for
Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) and Rangpur Dinajpur Rural
Service (RDRS) - LWF/WS report that none of their projects has
yet been affected but that the low-lying areas of the north-eastern
districts have been inundated by an on-rush of floodwater from across
the border following rains and overflowing rivers in the neighbouring
Indian state of Assam. The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Ganges-Padma
continue to rise at all points. The flood waters have affected a third
of Bangladesh’s 64 districts causing damage to crops and houses. The
worst affected are Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulovibazzar, Habiganj, Comilla,
Cox’s Bazar, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Feni, Noakhali, Bhittagong,
Bandarban, Gaibandha, Sherpur, Tangail, Netrakona and Jamalpur. 80,000
people have been marooned in the 5 north-western districts of Bangladesh
in the Brahmaputra basin. There are health concerns as flood waters
submerge wells used for drinking water.
The Government of Bangladesh has sent food relief to the affected
districts and stands ready to send more should the situation demand
it.
According to the Flood Forecasting Warning Centre (FFWC) the situation
is likely to worsen as the Indian state of Assam has experienced a
second spell of floods that might lead to further swelling of rivers
in Bangladesh.
The ACT members in Bangladesh are monitoring the situation and will
keep the ACT CO informed.
