Flood relief for 1,000 households in Bangladesh

Flood situation:
In Bangladesh, an estimated 3.7 million people in 19 districts have been affected by the recent floods which began in mid-July. More than 250,000 houses are reported damaged. Around 110 deaths have been reported.

Of the total number of people affected by the latest floods, around 2 million lives in Jamalpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha - Bangladesh's poorest districts, where around a third of the population falls below the poverty line. These northern areas were also hit by severe flooding in September 2014.

The water has now started receding but experts cautioned about different post flood crisis like water borne diseases, food insecurity, water scarcity, lack of sanitation facilities, and environmental hazards.

Friendship’s response:
“In giving relief, we must beware that we do not take away their self-respect and dignity. Then we take more than what we give.”
– Runa Khan, Founder and Executive Director, Friendship

• Rescue: Friendship made available 5 boats for rescue services
• Shelter: Arranged shelter for 1,287 people and 1,278 cattle in Friendship schools and raised plinths
• Water Sanitation: installed water sanitation facilities in 25 locations where people took shelter
• Medical support: provided medical services to 9,056 people through 83 emergency medical camps in Gaibandha, Kurigram, Bogra, Jamalpur and Sirajgonj
• Cattle vaccination: vaccinated 122 cattle in collaboration with government
• Staff and Volunteers services: 100 community volunteers and at least 500 staff are involved
• Food relief: The 1st phase relief distribution for 10,757 families in 50 chars are in progress with a target to support over 20,000 families. The food relief contains 5 days’ food for a family of five people which includes 8 kg rice. 1 kg dal (pulse), 2 kg potato, ½ kg shuji (Semolina). 1 kg sugar, 1 liter oil, 5 packs oral saline, 1 kg salt and a hygiene pack (containing soap, toothpaste, petroleum jelly and detergent powder)

Thanks to the support from several institutional contributions from Bangladesh and numerous international contributions, particularly from Sweden, Luxembourg, Holland, France and UK, and as well as one-day salary contribution from all staff of Friendship Bangladesh, we are confident that we shall be reaching our target to give relief to 20,000 families, out of which distribution for 10,757 families are in progress. In addition post-flood rehabilitation measures, in relation to Friendship schools and water and sanitation infrastructure, will be implemented. Due to magnitude of this years’ floods, the needs of the affected people are enormous. Any further support received will allow Friendship to meet those needs even more adequately.

For more information, visit: www.friendship-bd.org

Links:

• Latest update on Friendship's Flood Response
• Video on Friendship's Flood Response

• Friendship_Flood_Report__21.08.2016.pdf (PDF)