Flooding in Sylhet City causing submersion by heavy rains and upstream flow, has not yet subsided. 15 wards in Sylhet City Corporation area are still under water due to the flood outbreak. Besides, about 10 lah people of 13 upazilas have been affected by this flood. About 22,000 people, including children, have taken shelter in shelters to get a safe place.
According to the information given by the Sylhet district administration, 130 wards including the city and 1602 villages of the district have been flooded till Thursday. 9 lakh 57 thousand 448 people have been affected by flood. In the meantime, 50 thousand people in the city are waterlogged. 627 shelters have been opened in district and city. Of these, 80 are in the city.
Women and children sheltered in shelters are at risk due to such floods. Especially children's safe place, safe food, ensuring nutrition and safe sanitation have become a big challenge in Sylhet.
After on the spot visit in several shelters , it was seen that families had to leave their homes without any preparation. As a result, there are not enough living materials in the shelter. Parents are not able to bathe children or provide other facilities.
On the one hand, there are sanitation problems and on the other hand, children are not able to get a safe place and nutritious food. According to the information provided by the district administration, there are at least 7 thousand children in the shelters. Due to the damp environment and unsanitary dirty water during floods, children can be affected by various diseases.
Along with children, women are also in trouble. Due to the lack of adequate sanitation in the shelters due to the presence of extra people, women are facing big problems. Women are also suffering from safety risks due to the use of one toilet by men and women. Besides, the flood is also having a big impact on the menstrual problems of girls.
A woman named Umme Kulsum said that the night before Eid, water started entering the house before she knew anything. Children were drowning in waist-deep water. The came to this school to save them. The City Corporation is providing food here. But I can't bathe the children. I can't give food properly. I can't even make breakfast. We cannot use the toilet. Many people but there are two toilets here.
Sylhet Sadar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Abdul Ahad said that the risk of children in flood is very high. For example, after floods, children may suffer from diarrhea, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. Apart from children, women can also have various problems. They can suffer from various diseases including stomach ailments. So be safe and aware. Damp environment should be avoided. It is important to use safe sanitation.
The people of Sylhet are affected by the second round of floods in a span of 20 days. Before this Sylhet flood situation occurred on May 27. 7.5 lakh people of all upazilas of the district were affected. Sylhet was flooded again from June 15 before the flood water receded completely.
Among them, heavy rain started in Sylhet from dawn on the day of Eid (June 17). With the name onrush from the hills many areas of the city were submerged before morning. The flood situation continues to deteriorate in different parts of the district.