2 million people affected by flooding in Bangladesh

DHAKA, 07 July 2024 -2 million people across Bangladesh have been affected in the third wave of flooding to hit the country since May. 300,000 people are currently stranded in the worst-hit areas. Classes have been halted at approximately 500 schools in Sylhet, in northern Bangladesh, with the buildings either flooded or being used as shelter centres. People are sheltering in local railway stations, boats and rafts.

"It's monsoon season, so we expect rain and some flooding this time of the year, but we're definitely seeing more rain this year, it's becoming harder to predict, and the water is rising quicker. It's making it tough for people, especially in low-lying areas, to secure their belongings, to get to shelters in time - particularly pregnant mothers, people living with disabilities, children and older people", said Dr Md Liakath Ali, Director, Climate Change Programme, Urban Development Programme, and Disaster Risk Management Programme, BRAC. "Bangladeshis are used to flooding, but the water is coming up so high and so quickly in low-lying areas that people are being forced to shelter on anything this time - even rafts made of banana trees."

BRAC's teams are currently on the ground, providing emergency food, water and shelter. Tens of thousands of shelters are open, and the government has allocated cash, food and animal fodder in the affected areas. Hundreds of thousands of people, especially those living in low-lying areas, are stranded in floodwaters, with limited access to food and safe water.

The situation is expected to worsen in the coming week, with heavy rain predicted.

Northeastern Bangladesh has been severely inundated since 27 May. Within two weeks of subsiding, continuous rain from 17 June led to a second wave of flooding. Before the completion of recovery efforts, the third wave struck on 1 July.