Bangladesh Flooding Crisis: Rising Death Toll and Disease Concerns

The death toll from the recent floods in Bangladesh has reached 71, with millions still stranded. Authorities and aid organizations are stepping up efforts to prevent waterborne diseases and provide essential supplies. The floods have affected around 5 million people and caused significant crop damage.

The death toll from floods in Bangladesh rose to 71 on Tuesday, leaving millions stranded in devastated areas and increasing concerns about waterborne diseases as floodwaters recede.

The monsoon rains and upstream runoff over the past two weeks have caused widespread destruction, affecting nearly five million people. More than 580,000 families in 11 flood-hit districts remain marooned, with urgent needs for food, clean water, medicine, and dry clothing. Nearly 500 medical teams, alongside the military and border guard, are assisting in relief efforts.

Authorities are urgently working to prevent waterborne diseases, a common aftermath of such disasters, and ensure clean drinking water is available. Nearly 5,000 hospitalizations for diarrhoea, skin infections, and snake bites have been reported in the last 24 hours.

Heavy rains in Dhaka on Tuesday submerged roads, causing massive traffic jams. Crops worth 33.5 billion taka ($282 million) have been damaged, impacting over 1.4 million farmers, according to the agriculture ministry.

A World Bank Institute analysis in 2015 estimated that 3.5 million people in Bangladesh are at risk of annual river flooding, a figure exacerbated by climate change. UNICEF has launched a $35 million appeal to provide essential supplies to the 2 million children at risk due to the severe flooding.

(With inputs from agencies.)