Flood in Cox’s Bazar: 3 lakh people struggling for food, safe water

COX'S BAZAR, July 11:  Six days of relentless rain and flash floods triggered by upstream runoff have further worsened the flood situation in Cox's Bazar's Chakaria, the newly formed Matamuhuri, and Pekua upazilas, leaving around 300,000 people struggling for food and safe drinking water.

Floodwaters have spread to new areas after embankments gave way, inundating homes, schools, rural roads, croplands and fish farms.

According to the district administration, local representatives and residents, at least 50 unions across the three upazilas remained flooded as of Friday. Chakaria and Matamuhuri have been the worst affected, with nearly 200,000 people marooned in 18 unions and one municipality. Communication has been severely disrupted in most areas.

The disaster claimed two more lives on Friday morning when a boat capsised while crossing floodwater in Rasulabad area of Baraitali Union in Chakaria. The victims were sisters Hasnatul Jannat Jharna, 12, and Shawrin Moni, 7, daughters of local resident Abdul Malek.

Baraitali Union Parishad Chairman Salequzzaman said the boat overturned in a strong current. Although both girls were rescued, Jharna could not be saved.

The latest deaths came a day after four children died in separate flood-related incidents. Two cousins -- Obaidul Islam, 14, and Rumi Akter, 17 -- were killed in a landslide while asleep in Machhniakata village early Thursday. Later that day, two more children, two-and-a-half-year-old Wakim from Kakara Union in Chakaria and three-year-old Pushpa from Charpara in Konakhali Union of Matamuhuri, also died.

With Friday's boat capsize, the local death toll has risen to six.
Flood victims said thousands of tube-wells have gone underwater, cutting off access to safe drinking water.

Many families have waist- to chest-deep water inside their homes, making it impossible to cook. Shortages of dry food, baby food and medicines have also become acute, with children, the elderly, pregnant women and sick people facing the greatest hardship.

Saiful Islam, a resident of Baraitali Union in Chakaria, said floodwater had reached waist level inside his house.
"We have no way to cook. Food and safe drinking water have become our biggest concerns," he said.

Moin Uddin, a resident of Ward No. 3 of Chakaria municipality, said his family had remained stranded for three days.
"We cannot even find food for children. The relief being distributed is far from enough," he said.

Another resident, Nazrul Islam, blamed poor infrastructure for preventing floodwaters from draining away quickly.
"The biggest crisis now is food and safe drinking water," he said.

Makbul Ahmed of BM Char Union in Matamuhuri said his house had gone under water and cooking had become impossible.
"Many people are going hungry. The shortage of safe drinking water has become severe," he said.

Strong currents breached flood-control embankments at Purutyakhali and Moronghona in Konakhali Union of Matamuhuri, allowing water to inundate more than 100 villages.

Many families were forced to abandon their homes overnight and move to safer places.
Konakhali Union Parishad Chairman Didarul Haque Sikder said the embankment breaches had left more than 200,000 people in the two upazilas marooned.

Floodwaters have also submerged vast areas of aman seedbeds, seasonal vegetable fields and hundreds of fish enclosures, exposing farmers and fish growers to losses worth crores of taka.

Traffic has virtually come to a halt on the Chakaria-Maheshkhali road and most rural roads after they went under water.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board, runoff from Lama and Alikadam in Bandarban has pushed the Matamuhuri River to 11.94 metres, exceeding its danger level of 11.80 metres.

BWDB Sub-Divisional Engineer Salahuddin Ahmed said several embankments had been damaged due to rising river levels.
"Emergency repair work will begin once the floodwater recedes," he said.

Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahin Delwar said the administration had allocated an initial 30 tonnes of rice and dry food while opening a control room to monitor the situation.

Floodwater has also inundated several sections of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf highway. More than two feet of water has been flowing over the highway in South Mithachhari, Kathirmatha, Panerchhara and Chailyatali areas of Ramu, disrupting the movement of small vehicles.

Large parts of Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar Sadar and Eidgaon upazilas also remain under water. Residents alleged that railway embankments and other infrastructure have slowed the drainage of floodwater.

District administration officials said 640 cyclone and flood shelters have been kept ready. Authorities have stocked 200 tonnes of rice, Tk 1 million in emergency funds and around 1,500 packets of dry food.

Cox's Bazar Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md Azad Rahman said around 96,000 people across the district had been affected.
He said the ongoing disaster has claimed 19 lives, including 13 Rohingyas. The administration has provided Tk 100,000 to the families of four local victims, Tk 30,000 to two injured families and distributed 555 packets of dry food. A request has been sent to the ministry for additional relief.

Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan said continued rainfall could further worsen the situation.
"Although we have made extensive preparations, we have sought additional relief allocations from the government to meet growing needs," he said.