Sylhet flood: Acute food crisis and shortage of water hit shelters

People in shelter houses in flood-hit Sylhet are suffering from acute food and a shortage of potable water.

Many are staying in the shelters without food. 

Jainal Miah, the janitor of Machimpur Abdul Hamid Government Primary School, said that 100-150 families were staying at the school. As the water subsided, people started returning to their homes since Friday evening. But the rest of them suffer as there is no food. 

Some said they were living on dried food such as puffed rice.

Shahera—who has taken refuge at the school with her two children—told this reporter that she is in dire straits as there is no money and neither is there any food. 

Similar situations were witnessed in other shelters as well. 

Joynal Abedin took shelter in Telikhal High School centre in Companiganj. For the last four days, his family has been eating once a day. 

Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Russel Hasan told Dhaka Tribune that 1,175.50 tons of rice and Tk53.75 lakh have so far been allocated for the flood victims in the district. Of this, Sylhet city will get 165 tons of rice and Tk13 lakh in cash. 

The district administration said there are a total of 720 shelters kept prepared in the district and 22,623 people were staying in the shelters till yesterday. 

Meanwhile, the past two days of sunny weather have contributed to the decline of floodwaters in all upazilas of the district. 

The water level of the Surma River in the city has fallen and is now flowing three centimeters below the danger level and the water has begun to recede from various houses, prompting some families to return home from shelters. 

However, the slow drainage due to clogged and unconnected drains in Sylhet city has created unsanitary conditions, with dirty water accumulating in many homes. 

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Shah Md Sajib Hossain, Assistant Meteorologist at Sylhet Weather Office, said that the district experienced only 2mm of rainfall in the 24 hours till 6am Saturday. No rainfall was recorded after this period. 

He, however, said that in the next three days, temporary gusty or stormy winds accompanied by rain or thunderstorms may occur in the Sylhet region at speeds of 45-60 kmph from the south or southeast. 

While the floodwaters are receding, heavy rainfall could worsen the situation again, exacerbating the hardship for those returning to their homes from the shelters. Any increase in water levels would severely impact these individuals, he said. 

Despite the improving flood situation, people trapped in the flooded areas are facing food shortages and a lack of clean water. 

Our Sylhet correspondent Md Serajul Islam contributed to the report