Millions of children at risk after devastating floods in Bangladesh

Severe flooding triggered by monsoon rains in Bangladesh has left millions of children in need of humanitarian assistance.

Around 4.9 million people have been stranded and 18 have died due to floods triggered by excessive rainfall and unusual tides as a result of unusually heavy monsoon rainfall last week. Currently, the most affected districts in Bangladesh include Feni, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Cumilla, Khagrachari and Chittagong as five major rivers are flowing above danger levels.

Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh, which is providing humanitarian assistance to families who have been forced to evacuate their homes, said: “The impact of this year’s monsoon rains has been widespread and devastating. Entire communities have been completely inundated and waterlogged, and there are now millions of people, including children, in need of safe shelter and lifesaving humanitarian assistance. Plan Bangladesh stands in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh during this challenging time.

“We are working on the ground to provide emergency assistance to the most vulnerable children, especially girls, who we know are often at highest risk in crises like these. Our teams are in the worst-hit areas, working tirelessly to asses and reach families with life saving assistance, including clean drinking water, food, and hygiene kits.”

Across Bangladesh, 11 districts have been inundated by rainfall, impacting around 1 million families.

There are currently 3,527 flood shelters accommodating 2,84,888 people. Of those directly impacted by the flooding, a report by the Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) estimates that 1.54 million are children and adolescents aged five to 19, 0.4 million are infants under the age of four and 66,447 women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The situation has been exacerbated by damage to flood control dams in Feni, leading to widespread flooding across multiple upazilas or sub-districts, and a lack of prior warning or forecasting which left many communities unable to prepare.

Railway tracks have also been left damage and road access to several regions has been cut off, isolating communities and hampering relief and disaster management.

Plan International Bangladesh’s Emergency Response Team, volunteers and local partner organisations have been deployed to impacted communities. Contingency funding has been allocated to provide essential supplies including dry food, menstrual health supplies and child protection support, with the organisation appealing for 4 million EUR in total to fund its response.