Islamic Relief Launches Emergency Appeal in Response to Bangladesh Floods

Islamic Relief launches emergency appeal in response to Bangladesh floods. 1.5 million children are at increased risk of drowning, disease and malnutrition.

International relief agency, Islamic Relief launched an emergency appeal today to help people hit hard by the worst floods in two decades in North-Eastern Bangladesh, as thousands face shortages of food and essentials. 

Houses, roads and croplands have been severely damaged, and schools and buildings submerged in water. 70 per cent of the district of Sylhet and 60 per cent of the neighbouring Sunamganj district have been affected, leaving two million people stranded and dozens of people dead.

Approximately 50,000 families have been without power for days in the Sylhet city area due to the submergence of power stations, depriving people of electricity. Thousands of toilets and tube wells have already been destroyed, and without adequate sanitation and shelter, many are even more vulnerable to the spread of disease.

Communication and transportation have been heavily disrupted, and the United Nations on Monday said more than 1.5 million children in the country were at increased risk of waterborne diseases, drowning and malnutrition due to the floods.

Islamic Relief are on the ground, providing essential food, sanitation, and hygiene kits, as well as vital shelter repair for thousands of people in need. They are also providing vital hygiene promotion sessions to help thousands of people navigate through the ongoing crisis as safely as possible.

“This is one of the worst floods in decades for this region and millions are now at risk of disease and malnutrition.  

“We are immediately responding and cannot allow a secondary disaster to happen due to the lack of food and clean water, the essentials that are needed to save lives at this critical time.  

“Unfortunately, we are once again seeing the devastating impacts of climate change and it is those who are least responsible for the climate crisis who are bearing the brunt of these emergencies.”

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Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way. 

Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.