Thousands forced to flee their homes
Thousands have been forced to flee after flooding affected 32 districts in the north, north-east and central areas of Bangladesh.
The situation has deteriorated further with areas in central Bangladesh including capital Dhaka now flooded. Official figures show at least 120 people have died and more than 7.5 million are stranded. The number of dead is expected to rise sharply as news comes in from more remote areas.
Hundreds of thousands of people across the affected areas are at risk from hunger and disease. International aid agencies have warned of potential outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases after flooding. Many people have been living in the open and drinking polluted water from rivers after their homes were destroyed.
An estimated five million hectares of farm land is under water and 89,048 housing units destroyed. So far this year, some 5 million Bangladeshis have been displaced.
Flood waters have started to recede slowly in Northern districts.
Food, clean drinking water and medical aid are the priorities, but only a fraction of those who need them are receiving supplies as aid agencies and government teams struggle to get through. If the water stays for much longer the people will have to take extreme measures such as taking loans and distress-selling to feed their families.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centres report that major rivers like Ganges-Padma and Meghna are still rising but the situation is not yet as severe as the flooding in 2004, in which over 800 people lost their lives and millions had to leave their homes.
Plan staff are currently on the ground assessing the situation with affected communities who are in urgent need of food, clean water, clothes, medicine, fodder and carbolic acid (to curb snake bites).
As soon as we receive updated information regarding the situation and the families affected, we will endeavour to share it with our supporters and publish it online.
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