2.9m affected by floods in 8 districts, two dead

As many as 450,000 people have been trapped by floodwater in eight districts, says the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

“A total of 357 unions in 50 Upazilas in eight districts are inundated with floodwater. As many as 440,840 families are marooned by the water,” Additional Secretary KM Ali Reza said at a press briefing on Thursday.

“The number of flood victims stands at 2.9 million and two people have died. One of them was from Feni and the other from Brahmanbaria.”

The government has opened 1,534 shelters for the trapped and flood-affected people, the additional secretary said. At least 75,668 people and 7,459 livestock have taken refuge in those shelters while 444 medical teams were providing medical services to the affected people, he said.

Ali Reza also said the government allocated Tk 18.2 million in cash, 13,650 tonnes of rice and 11,000 sacks of dry foods for the flood victims. “In addition, we have sufficient relief goods stocked in all districts.”

The ministry gave directives to the deputy commissioners in the flood-affected districts to coordinate and work with the Army, medical teams, other volunteers and coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, the additional secretary said.