Summer is the typical “hurricane season” for countries all over the world, so heavy rain is expected, but it usually entails no more than the usual brief warning of “Stay inside and carry an umbrella!” At least in the United States, summertime isn’t severely affected by rainstorms, except for an occasional hurricane. But for countries in Asia, specifically Bangladesh, this summer’s weather had a lasting impact on the local communities and families like never before.
From late June to early August, a series of abrupt rainstorms combined with strong monsoon winds led to the overflow of rivers surrounding northeastern Bangladesh. Most prominently, millions were left stranded and at risk of malnutrition.
According to the New York Times article “Deadly Floods Strike Troubled Bangladesh” by Saif Hasnat, floods were said to have left about 90 percent of homes “flooded with knee-high water.” With water levels up to ten feet, thousands of residents were left with irreparable damage to their homes. The deluge caused thousands of families to be displaced from their homes, leaving them stranded. Due to the uninhabitable conditions of their homes, Bangladeshis have had to seek refuge in shelters; however, there have been an insufficient number of shelters set up.
As an immediate response, organizations like UNICEF, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT), and the Bangladeshi government set up shelters and emergency kits and donated money to families to help locals recover from the flood as quickly as possible. UNICEF has provided filtered drinking water and basic hygiene supplies; such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towels, etc.
Aside from housing, excessive damage was done to the crops and livestock of northeastern Bangladesh. Maryanne Buechner, author of “Floods in Bangladesh: How UNICEF is Delivering Relief & Protection to Children,” states that “over half of the Sylhet district’s crops and fields are submerged, threatening livelihoods and food security.” Fields have been flooded and entirely wiped out by the large rushes of water, which has led to many families being on the verge of malnutrition. Bangladesh is a third-world country and is heavily dependent on agriculture since many of the locals are farmers and rely on an abundance of crops to make a living. The damaged goods have a lasting impact on workers and their income, as well as the families they sell food to. Locals are left without rice, corn, and other nutritious vegetables and foods that are necessary for a balanced diet.
The floodings in Bangladesh are something that affect millions every year. It’s a continuous challenge that locals have yet to overcome and each year the outcome is the same; families are left without shelter, crops are destroyed, and communities have a hard time getting back on their feet after the natural disaster strikes.
