Bangladesh floods claim 71 lives; disease outbreak fears rise

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024

The death toll from Bangladesh’s devastating floods has climbed to 71, with millions still stranded in flood-hit areas. As waters recede, concerns over potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases are growing.

Triggered by relentless monsoon rains and upstream runoff, the floods have severely impacted nearly five million people over the past two weeks. Over 580,000 families remain marooned in 11 districts, urgently needing food, clean water, medicine, and clothing.

Nearly 500 medical teams are providing critical care, with the military and border guard forces assisting in relief efforts. Authorities are focused on preventing waterborne diseases, a common threat in the aftermath of such disasters, and ensuring access to clean drinking water.

In the past 24 hours alone, nearly 5,000 people have been hospitalized due to diarrhea, skin infections, and snake bites, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. Heavy rainfall in Dhaka has further exacerbated the situation, flooding roads and causing massive traffic jams.

Agriculture officials estimate that crop damage could reach 33.5 billion taka (about $282 million), affecting over 1.4 million farmers. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a $35 million emergency appeal, warning that two million children are at risk in what is considered the worst flooding in three decades.

“Year after year, millions of children in Bangladesh are devastated by floods, heatwaves, and cyclones,” said Emma Brigham, UNICEF Bangladesh’s Deputy Representative. “Climate change is drastically altering their lives.”