Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS, 30th August– UNICEF and its partners on Thursday reported that over 18 million people in Bangladesh have been affected by severe monsoon conditions, with more than 1.2 million families trapped as flash floods submerge vast areas of the east and southeast.
UNICEF said that the worst affected regions are Chattogram and Sylhet, where major rivers are “flowing well above danger levels”, further aggravating the situation.
Initial estimates suggest that around 5 million people including two million children – have been affected, many stranded without food and relief.
UNICEF added 20 deaths have been reported as of Tuesday, and a 285,000 have sought refuge in more than 3,500 shelters.
Massive damage has been reported to roads, croplands, and fisheries, severely impacting livelihoods.
Government-led search and rescue operations are ongoing, with some areas inaccessible.
UN-partners in some places have reported that water levels are not expected to recede for at least a week, with risk of persistent waterlogging and accompanying threat of water- and vector-borne diseases.
According to local media, the state of Tripura in eastern India was hit by extraordinary rainfall for over 72 hours roughly ten days ago, resulting in some of the most severe floods since 1983.
The rains with over 2,000 resulting landslides, reportedly affecting 1.7 million people, including around 117,000 who have been displaced to relief camps set up by district authorities.
Some 26 people are said to have been killed, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said, cited officials.
A Government-led response is ongoing, with floodwater levels said to have been receding.
Multiple landslides were also reported in the northern state of Himanchal Pradesh since late July, leading to several casualties.
The monsoon season also wreaked havoc in Nepal, a country on the frontlines of climate change, experiencing more erratic and intense weather and rapid warming of glaciers, leading to severe flash floods and landslides.
A glacial lake outburst flood in the country’s Everest region wiped off the village of Thame, situated at an altitude of about 3,800 metres (12,500 feet) and popular with trekkers.
There are no deaths or serious injuries were reported, more than a dozen houses and small hotels, a school and a health clinic were washed away.
The 2024 monsoon season led to more than 200 deaths, including in Kathmandu.
In a tragic incident, about 65 people died when two buses were pushed into a swollen river last month.
Authorities have been able to recover the remains of only three people, with search efforts ongoing.
OCHA reported that in Pakistan, disasters claimed the lives of 243 people since July mostly children and underscored their heightened vulnerability.
Floods resulted in “extensive damage” to livelihoods and vital infrastructure, including schools and bridges.
Assessments and response continue, with humanitarian partners and authorities reporting food, clean water, medical supplies and hygiene kits as key needs.
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