Flood victims in Sylhet are suffering from a shortage of food and pure drinking water in shelter centres.

According to locals and officials concerned, it is not possible to send relief items to flood-prone areas due to the boat crisis. Not only that, authorities cannot provide food items to the government-run shelters now. They can't even take out the items from the food warehouses surrounded by water. 

The situation in Sylhet district has deteriorated due to the devastating floods, said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mujibur Rahman. He said that 13 Upazilas, 5 municipalities and city corporations of Sylhet are heavily affected by the floods.

The people of Sylhet have been facing severe floods since last Wednesday (June 15) due to heavy rains and steep slopes coming down from the hills, Mujibur Rahman said.

An emergency meeting with the district disaster management committee was held on Thursday (June 16) regarding the flood situation, said DC, adding, "We also request the Department of Public Health Executive Engineering to provide water purification tablets and kit boxes. Police assistance was also sought to ensure the safety of the shelter."

Pure water is being supplied to the affected areas through bottles from four purification water plants. In addition, two and a half lakh water purification tablets have been provided. 140 medical teams are working in the flood-hit areas.

However, out of the relief allocated for the flood victims, 812.420 metric tons of rice, 8,118 packets of dry food were distributed.

"There is currently no relief rice left... we have only 216 packets of dry food, and Tk 56 lakh 50 thousand in cash," said Mujibur Rahman. 

The deputy commissioner said that the police help was sought on the first day (June 18) to ensure the safety of the shelter. On the same day, we distributed 432 metric tons GR rice, Tk 16 lakh 50 thousand and 2 thousand 9 sacks of dry food among 13 Upazilas.

According to local administration sources, there has been a boat crisis in the flood-hit areas. It is not possible to go to the helpless people. Even the government-run shelters are not getting food. Apart from this, in many cases it is not possible to get food out of the warehouses as there is heavy water around.

After coming to the shelter, affected people are still suffering. There are not enough facilities to stay in the shelter. Many are not even getting food, so they are starving without food, added local administration sources.

Members of army, navy, air force and coast guard are working together to rescue people from flood-hit areas in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. 

They have already evacuated thousands of people. However, the flood hit people are living a dehumanized life due to lack of food.

BDST: 1615 HRS, JUNE 20, 2022
MSK/SMS