The deluge left a trail of devastation in the country's north-east, north and north-middle region. However, the overall flood situation is improving in the region as water recession continues in many rivers till Sunday. But the flood uncovered a landscape of widespread devastation dotted by shattered homes, educational institutions, business establishments and other infrastructures, washed-out farmlands and broken roads. Although the situation shows signs of improvement but the miseries of tens of thousands of people in the affected areas are far from over.
Many people returned home from the various institutional shelters and saw their houses were completely destroyed in the flood. Besides, a large numbers of houses are still waterlogged while croplands under threat of severe river erosion.
Necessary measures should be taken to prevent
outbreak of water-borne diseases in flood-affected areas
The worst-affected families are worrying over a return to normal life as they remain stranded far from home in makeshift shelters. Inadequate government relief and crises of food and drinking water have compounded their woes. Prices of rice, lentil and vegetable have gone up in the affected areas as crops on vast swathes of land got damaged.
Many affected people alleged that relief provided by the authorities was insufficient to meet their daily needs. The affected people are passing days in extreme misery amid an acute crisis of food and pure drinking water and the spread of waterborne diseases.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her recent visit to Sylhet said that all the flood-hit people would be rehabilitated. Following her order, all concerned particularly the field level administration took prompt measures to ease sufferings of the flood affected people.
Still flood victims are desperately looking for relief especially in the remote area. They are rushing to any approaching boat or vehicles in hope of receiving relief items. Besides, the risk of an outbreak of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases is also high in flood-affected areas.
The local administration will have to intensify distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas. Also, necessary measures should be taken to
prevent outbreak of water-borne diseases in flood-affected areas.
The authorities concerned must help the affected people in repairing the damaged houses on an emergency basis. Besides, the damaged and affected educational institutions, business establishments, important infrastructures roads and embankment will have to be repaired immediately to protect the lives and livelihoods of people. We believe Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government will do everything for the flood victims.