Bangladesh: Christians Rush To Provide Aid To Flood Victims

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Church agencies and Christian organizations have been assisting victims of recent flooding that left tens of thousands marooned in the north and northeast of Bangladesh.

Caritas in Dinajpur, one of the worst affected areas provided food and clothes to some 4,500 people residing in dozens of flood shelters. Meanwhile, Caritas in Rajshahi has offered meals to 1,500 people.

Church parishes, schools and boarding hostels have been flood shelters for hundreds of people throughout August. Churches and Christian groups have appealed to Christians to offer cash and daily essentials for flood victims.

“We couldn’t do much to help victims at this stage, except supply food to flood shelters. Flood damage has been enormous, and we would like to offer complete rehabilitation package to victims. All will depend on the generosity of donor agencies,” Uzzal Ekka, program officer of Disaster Management at Caritas Dinajpur told ucanews.com.

The Bangladesh Christian Association (BCA), the country’s largest Christian forum, has also collected donations and started distribution among flood victims.

“We are distributing lungi and saris for the victims. We have also collected more money, so we can buy more items as necessary. Since Eid-ul-Azha is approaching, we have focused on new clothing as Eid gifts for victims,” Nirmol Rozario, BCA president told ucanews.com.

Triggered by heavy monsoon rain and high water levels coming downstream in rivers from India, flooding has affected 7.6 million and killed 137 people in Bangladesh, according the country’s Disaster Management department.

About 689,800 houses and crops on 11,400 hectares of lands have been destroyed.

About 41 million people in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan have been affected by some of the worst flooding in decades, according to United Nations.

UCA News

The Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News, UCAN) is the leading independent Catholic news source in Asia. A network of journalists and editors that spans East, South and Southeast Asia, UCA News has for four decades aimed to provide the most accurate and up-to-date news, feature, commentary and analysis, and multimedia content on social, political and religious developments that relate or are of interest to the Catholic Church in Asia.

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