by William Gomes

More than half a million people have been displaced with most living in the open or in boats. Not enough food and medicines have reached those in need whilst water sources have been contaminated. Diarrhoea is reaching epidemics proportions.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) – The situation for half a million people affected by cyclone Alia is getting worse since relief operations have failed so far to supply enough water and food or provide adequate shelter to those in need. The official death toll has reached 168, but other source put the total number of dead well above 200. Now the threat comes from infectious diseases threatening thousands of refugees.

Days after the cyclone hit, thousands of villagers in Bagerhat, Satkhira, Khulna, Bhola and Noakhali are still in need of food and drinking water.

According to an unofficial estimate, about 2,000 people have contracted diarrhoea because of water sources have been contaminated.

In fact more than a million people might have been affected, Health authorities are reporting.

Over 4,000 people who have been marooned by floodwater in Kamarkhola, Sutarkhali, Tildanga, and Banishanta have contracted diarrhoea in the last four days, said Kazi Atiur Rahman, upazila nirbahi officer of Dakop upazila in Khulna.

Eight people have already died of diarrhoea in Patuakhali, but there are fears that things might get worse.

Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed; many more have been damaged or can no longer be used.

Bangladesh's Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak said that some half a million people are homeless.

Many have found shelter in relief centres, but others are still stranded in the open, on roads, near dikes or in boats.

• bangladesh
• cyclone
• alia
• diarrhoea
• humanitarian
• disaster
• abdur
• razzak