24 July 2012
More than 1,000 families in Bangladesh are getting emergency aid from Tearfund after being hit by destructive widespread flooding.
Days of heavy monsoon rains have caused the floods which have killed more than 100 people and affected 1.5 million others, mainly in the north of the country.
The rain has swollen major rivers, swept away homes, destroyed crops and triggered landslides which have disrupted transport and communication links, as well as delaying aid efforts.
Providing clean drinking water is a key challenge as many existing wells are under three to five feet of water in places.
Disease
Waterborne diseases and diarrhoea have broken out in areas where people have been made homeless and left marooned by the rising flood waters.
Lack of food and clean drinking water is a big problem for those affected, particularly those unable to shelter with relatives.
As the flood waters have started to recede, Tearfund partner Koinonia has supplied food to 600 needy families and another 600 are to receive similar aid in the days ahead.
Mark Rajib Halder, Executive Director for Koinonia, said, ‘We’re grateful to Tearfund for their sacrificial support to stand beside these 1,200 indigenous families.’