{"id":192141,"date":"2022-06-22T20:00:56","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T18:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arabtelegraph.com\/?p=192141"},"modified":"2022-06-22T20:00:57","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T18:00:57","slug":"bangladesh-india-race-to-help-millions-stranded-in-deadly-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabtelegraph.com\/?p=192141","title":{"rendered":"Bangladesh, India race to help millions stranded in deadly flooding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 Authorities in Bangladesh intensified efforts on Wednesday to deliver food and drinking water to millions of people struggling after heavy rain unleashed catastrophic flooding across a quarter of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bangladesh is considered one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, with a 2015 analysis by the World Bank Institute estimating about 3.5 million Bangladeshis are at risk of river flooding every year.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government was working hard to rescue people trapped in the floods and provide relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We deployed different agencies, including the army, navy and air force to rescue people. In some areas, we have ensured that people are airlifted,” she said, adding that waters may recede soon but the southern part of Bangladesh was likely to be swamped, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, at least 17 of the country’s 64 districts, mostly in the north and north eastern Sylhet region, were reeling from the natural disaster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We are making frantic efforts to ensure there is food and drinking water for all the affected people,” said Atiqul Haque, director general of Bangladesh’s Department of Disaster Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Large swathes of farm villages were submerged. Rescue teams used boats to supply drinking water, medicine and food to people perched on higher ground and government buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Many people are in dire need of food and drinking water,” said Enam Ahmed, 45, a resident in worst-hit Sunmaganj district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There is water everywhere but no drinking water. Flood shelters were crammed with people but they are not getting enough food,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International aid organisations working in Bangladesh said the situation was extremely grim and the scale of the impact was becoming apparent as communications were being restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n