Millions of Bangladesh Flood Victims Left Homeless

Christian humanitarian groups are gearing up to help the suffering in flood stricken Bangladesh. Low-lying Bangladesh which is criss-crossed by a network of 230 rivers suffers annual flooding caused by monsoon rains and melting ice from the Himalayas.

According to reports, more than 1,100 deaths have been caused by flooding since 10th July across South Asia. Millions of people remained homeless in India and Bangladesh at the start of the 2004 monsoon season.

"It's quite possible there will be more flooding like this because we are only at the beginning of the monsoon season and still have another two months to go," Tony Maryon, head of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society said. "Then you would be looking at mass evacuation of areas and a big humanitarian crisis." The rainy season lasts from June to the end of September, and slightly later in some areas.

The flood waters has submerged two-thirds of Bangladesh. The United Nations World Food Programme has distributed rice and water purification tablets to flood victims in the north and centre of the country.

The Bangladesh government and international relief organisations said on Wednesday that millions across the country were without adequate supplies of food and fresh water. The United States and Britain have already announced aid donations and the United Nations is to launch an appeal to bolster the ongoing relief work.

'Food for the Hungry', a Christian relief and development organisation which has been working in Bangladesh for several years, has established disaster preparedness committees. Meanwhile, they are encouraging Christians everywhere to get involved.

"Many times when Christians commit themselves to Christ, they will extract themselves from the world. One of the things that we can do in a disaster is to encourage them to leave that mentality behind. It makes them a light to all people. And, people like the government officials begin to ask questions about their motivations and we can answer those questions about Jesus Christ in a culturally appropriate manner."

The flooding is the heaviest to hit Bangladesh since 1998 when flood waters left more than 700 people dead and 21 million homeless.