Brace for post-flood crisis

The flood situation is likely to worsen further in some districts, while floodwaters in other parts of the country have started receding. It is a double whammy for the country, as on the one hand the government has to brace for fresh flooding and on the other hand face a severe post-disaster crisis.

It is natural that when floodwaters start receding, some critical challenges rear their heads. These mainly include outbreaks of waterborne diseases, acute shortages of food and safe drinking water, and massive agricultural and livestock losses. But the most immediately gruelling task is rebuilding homes destroyed by water and mud, which is urgently required in the Chattogram Division, where landslides killed dozens of people.

According to data from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, floodwaters in 59 upazilas across Habiganj, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Moulvibazar have started receding and residents of these areas have begun returning to their homes.

In these areas, a potable water crisis has emerged as tube wells have been submerged and its water is contaminated with faecal matter and debris. As a result, various waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and severe skin infections have broken out.

Most importantly, flood-affected people, mainly in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram and Bandarban, are now unable to enter their homes as they are filled with thick mud, rotting debris and washed-up waste. Thousands of people have found the roofs and walls of their houses severely damaged or washed away. 

Crop loss is another crisis they are facing as the floods have damaged hundreds of thousands of hectares of paddy fields, vegetable farms and other agricultural land. This has caused immediate food shortages and long-term economic hardship for farmers.

On the other hand, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has warned of potential fresh flooding in at least nine more districts, including Sylhet, Sunamganj, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Kurigram.

The new flooding has been forecast based on the fact that a number of rivers have been flowing above their danger levels. The Teesta River crossed the danger level on Tuesday. According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the water level at the Teesta Barrage (Dalia) point in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat stood at 52.22 metres, seven centimetres above the danger level of 52.15 metres, forcing the authorities to open all 44 gates to regulate the river flow. This has caused water levels to rise downstream in parts of Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha.

Additionally, water levels in several other rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dudhkumar, Jinjiram and Gangadhar, remained below their respective danger levels, although officials said they were rising steadily.

Meanwhile, the government has accelerated relief operations in the flood-affected regions. According to ministry sources, 1,049 shelters have been opened for flood victims in these areas, with 38,422 people currently residing there. Moreover, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief said that since 7 July, some 8,950 tonnes of rice and Tk 46 million have been allocated to flood-hit people. 

But at the moment, alongside continuing relief efforts, the government needs to prioritise rehabilitation work for flood victims, with special focus on preventing post-flood waterborne diseases and repairing their houses on an emergency basis.