Bangladesh Badly Hit by Floods - ACT

Bangladesh has been severely hit by the floods covering vast regions of south Asia, the Christian coalition Action by Churches Together International has warned.

Across Bangladesh, heavy monsoon rains have swelled rivers to the point of bursting their banks, causing extensive flooding in nearby towns and fields.

ACT member DanChurchAid's Asia coordinator, Jonas Noddeker, recently returned from an extensive field trip to Dhaka. He warned that there was an urgent need in the area for most items, including food, seed, grain and reconstruction.

"I have witnessed massive flooding and I have met with people, who have been driven away from their homes and have lost their jobs," he shared.

During his visit, Mr Noddoker assessed the extent of the damage from the monsoon rain across Bangladesh. He found that in northern areas, receding waters had allowed some people to return to their homes.

"In the northern part, the situation was desperate a couple of weeks ago. The inhabited islands in the delta have been flooded, but the water level is receding now, and many families have moved back into their homes again," says Mr Noddeker.

As the waters retreat, a new challenge is emerging, however. While some homes are undamaged enough for habitation, many fields remain under water and landowners are without seed grain for fresh planting.

Families that remain out of their homes are now dependent on aid because they have no money and no place to work.

"That is why there is a need for work-for-food projects and seed grain," says Mr Noddeker.

The high waters also pose an additional danger: snakes and drowning. "We met people who told us that there are a lot of snakes in the water, and that they have to be on constant lookout for their children, so they don't fall into the water. Several have drowned already," Mr Noddeker reported.

DCA and other ACT members are continuing to bring essential items to the millions across south Asia who have been left homeless or without means of income by the floods.