In response to the devastating floods that have ravaged the eastern regions of Bangladesh, social purpose organization Friendship has launched a series of emergency initiatives to meet the urgent healthcare and basic needs of the affected population.
The efforts are concentrated in the hard-to-reach areas of Monoharganj in Comilla and Chhagalnaiya in Feni, both of which have been severely impacted by the unprecedented floods.
Friendship has deployed mobile water purification units and set up two medical teams to provide immediate relief and healthcare to the most vulnerable. In addition, the organization has initiated relief distribution, providing food and essential hygiene supplies to thousands of families.
Water purification and healthcare
One of the most immediate concerns in the flood-affected regions is access to safe drinking water.
While floodwaters are abundant, much of it is contaminated with sand, debris, and pollutants, posing a high risk of waterborne diseases.
To address this, Friendship has installed mobile water purification units in some of the hardest-hit areas, including Daudkandi and Burichang in Comilla, as well as Pashuram and Chhagalnaiya in Feni.
These units are capable of purifying 500 litres of water per hour, ensuring clean drinking water for local residents. To date, the units have processed 8,000 litres of water, providing essential hydration for the communities in these regions.
In addition to water purification, healthcare teams are prioritising the treatment of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and skin infections, as well as ensuring medical care for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, adolescent girls, and the elderly.
Each day, the medical teams are treating 50 to 60 patients, 55% of whom are women. Friendship’s healthcare plan covers 16 locations over 8 days, aiming to reach over 40,000 residents in Comilla and Feni.
Relief distribution and solar power stations
In parallel to the healthcare operations, Friendship has distributed food and hygiene supplies to 1,000 flood-affected families.
Each family received a 10-day relief package, which includes essential food items like rice, pulses, cooking oil, salt, sugar, and flattened rice, along with hygiene products such as sanitary napkins, detergent, soap, and oral saline packets.
To alleviate the impact of power outages caused by the floods, four solar power stations have been installed in the affected areas.
These stations provide emergency electricity, enabling people to charge phones, use small appliances, and maintain a degree of comfort in their disrupted lives.
The relief operations are being led by Friendship’s Senior Director of Climate Action, Kazi Amdadul Hoque, and Deputy Director of Health, Dr Rafi Abul Hasnat Siddique.
They are coordinating efforts with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and ERIKS, ensuring that the organisation can provide effective support in the hardest-hit areas.
Working in close collaboration with local authorities, Friendship is focusing on marginalized regions that have been cut off from regular communication and relief efforts. These areas are often overlooked, yet the residents face significant challenges in accessing basic services and emergency supplies.
Runa Khan, the founder of Friendship, described the recent floods in Comilla and Noakhali as an unprecedented disaster for the region.
“Flash floods of this level are unprecedented. The calamity caused is heartbreaking. Local residents could never anticipate such a deluge. The residents of nine districts in the Sylhet, Comilla, and Noakhali regions are still facing enormous difficulties for survival,” she said.
Khan highlighted the high population density of these areas, which has exacerbated the impact of the floods. She also pointed out that Friendship’s flood volunteers, trained through years of work in the northern river islands (chars), played a crucial role in quickly reaching the most remote areas.
“Our preparedness goes beyond working in a particular region and thus acts as a multiplier,” she added.
As Friendship continues to provide emergency healthcare and relief, the organisation is already planning for post-flood rehabilitation efforts.
The priority will remain on the marginalized areas that have been hardest hit, ensuring that they receive the necessary support to recover and rebuild.
