Flood victims returning to ruined dwellings
AFTERMATH: Flood-ravaged houses at Elendabari village in Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha district, inset, an affected family rebuilding their house with the financial help given by an NGO at Galna village in the upazila.Photo: STAR
With receding of floodwater, thousands of families in different areas of Gaibandha district have started returning to their houses, only to see ravaged condition of their dwellings due to inundation for around two weeks. Sixty-seven thousand families have been affected as floodwater destroyed 43 thousand 844 dwelling houses in 26 unions of Sundarganj, Gaibandha Sadar, Fulchhari and Saghata upazilas of Gaibandha district, according to District Relief and Rehabilitation Department. Besides, 33 thousand 595 houses have been partially damaged due to the flood in the area. "We sustained huge losses as we were not prepared for the early flood. Water has receded, but we are struggling for survival as our dwelling huts have been damaged and there is no work to earn bread for the family," said Altaf Hossain of Galna village in Fulchhari upazila. "I am yet to bring my damaged dwelling huts back to liveable condition for want of money," said Abdul Quddus, a day labourer of Ratanpur village in Fulchhari upazila. In the face sudden flood, many people could not save their little stock of food grain and they are facing starvation, said Aftab Hossain, a social worker of Fulchhari upazila. The government has allocated cash Tk 30 lakh and one thousand tonnes of food grains for the flood affected people in the district but the amount is too scanty. "Rice and cash grant allocated for my union is too inadequate to rehabilitate a large number of flood affected people," said Abdul Hamid, chairman of Uria union in Fulchhari upazila. "Many destitute families in remote char areas are suffering for want of food and shelter. We could not provide any help for them," said M Abdus Sabur Sarker, chairman of Fulchhari union. Donor agency Plan Bangladesh distributed Tk 5 thousand each among 2,000 badly affected families of Fazlupur, Arendabari and Gajaria unions in Fulchhari upazila through local NGO Eco Social Development Organization, said M M Shakir Hossain, deputy programme unit manager of Plan Bangladesh. "I have received 10 kg rice and cash Tk 500 from as government relief. Besides, a local NGO provided Tk 5 thousand grant for reconstruction of our damaged house," said Sufia Begum of Galna village in Gajaria union.
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