Floods in Bangladesh put 7.6 million at risk: IFRC

Floods in Bangladesh have put the lives of 7.6 million people at risk, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said Wednesday, as official data put the number of dead so far at 119.

Hundreds of thousands of people are stranded in northern and northeastern parts of the country while more than 600,000 homes have been damaged.

People are also forced to live in unsanitary conditions and lack safe drinking water and adequate shelter, raising fears of widespread disease outbreaks. Communities are also reporting food shortages as more than 160,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged, said the IFRC.

“When I was in Bogura District this week, families who lost their homes and are now camping on road embankments told me they desperately need food, water and healthcare. Others said they have two crops a year. With the loss of one, they worry about feeding their families in the coming months. More floods are expected, so the situation is dire,” said Azmat Ulla, head of the IFRC’s Bangladesh office.

The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal for nearly 7 million Swiss francs (7 million U.S. dollars/6.4 million euros) to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in reaching 150,000 people affected by the floods.

According to the latest report of the country’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the floods have claimed the lives of 119 people so far.

Bangladesh witnessed a much worse situation in 2017 when 42% of its total land was submerged in flood waters, bringing untold suffering to millions of people.