Tragic floods marked by day-to-day heroism
Muslim, Christian and international organisations help homeless people and plan for post flood rehabilitation.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) Bangladeshis may be down but despite all the flood-related suffering they are not out. Hit year in, year out by rising waters the population ahs reacted as always, with strength and dignity but also resigned patience.
The capital city of Dhaka has not been among the worst affected area. Given the size of the flooded region the number of victims remains relatively small.
In an interview with AsiaNews, Father Franco Cagnasso, a long-time missioner in Bangladesh with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, reports without pulling any punches how people are dealing with floods in urban areas.
Father Cagnasso, how is the population coping with such a tragic situation?
People are stuck living in their homes despite the 10-15 cm (5-6 inches) of water. The conditions are simply unhygienic It is a disaster and the situation is contributing to the spread of infectious diseases like typhus and dysentery. Many people cannot get to work and so go back to their villages; if they were not flooded, that is. In urban areas you can see people drifting, seeking food, begging or trying to sell their animals. Only when water levels reach 1.5 metres (5 ft) do they abandon their homes.
What type of aid and assistance is reaching the cities?
There are different types of aid and assistance. The first one comes directly from the immediate social environment. Areas that were less badly hit help out those worse off. Muslim religious authorities are kept very busy helping people and managing shelters. Catholic groups are also involved trying to provide shelter to flood victims. For example, the Oblates' Mary Immaculate Church was only lightly damaged because of its higher elevation and is thus welcoming many in need. Every day, it offers shelter and provides food to about a thousand people.
The second type of aid and assistance comes from political parties. They are all more or less trying to do something Not much really! even though they are largely motivated by political considerations and trying to impress potential voters.
The third and last type of aid and assistance comes from international organisations and the government. Information about what they do comes through the local media. Given the Netherlands' long experience with floods and its willingness to help, Bangladesh's Prime Minister met the Dutch ambassador to ask for advice. International organisations are now focusing more on the reconstruction side of things rather than on more immediate needs.
Two days ago, on August 3, the United Nations organised a meeting with different non governmental organisations in Dhaka in order to raise the funds needed for reconstruction. After providing immediate help Caritas Internationalis, too, has moved to the reconstruction planning stage.
The most worrying part is that so many families have lost everything crop, work, home and must start from scratch.
How are people reacting to such suffering? Do they still have some hope in spite of it all?
What surprises me is how people bear suffering so stoically. No one by now believes or even has any hopes that things will change. The overall attitude is one of resignation but also of great dignity. Some fights break out when food is distributed but you would expect things to be worse given the heartbreaking situation.
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24/08/2004
16/09/2004
