Update: Flooding and landslides in Bangladesh

11 september 2018

Field staff and Church partners in Bangladesh continue to assess the impact of heavy rains that fell over the last three months.

• 1,781 Compassion-supported children are affected.
• 23 Church partners are affected.

Safety continues to be a concern for our Compassion-supported children whose homes were damaged or destroyed.

We will contact you directly if your sponsored child has been affected by the flooding in Bangladesh. 

7 september 2017

Water levels in Bangladesh have continued to go down over the last two weeks, but many homes were destroyed. People remain in temporary shelters or with relatives. Many families do not have the means to rebuild since they lost both their homes and their livelihood. Due to the destruction, the unemployment rate has increased dramatically and forced the majority of people to become day labourers.

The housing situation for many of our beneficiaries is precarious because they are staying in damaged homes or on higher ground near busy roadways. Compassion’s Child Survival Program caregivers have expressed health concerns due to the humid environment and close living quarters while waiting for floodwaters to recede.

Affected Compassion-supported children, as well as community members have received food supplies with the help of our Church partners, community leaders and the local government.

The health and safety of our beneficiaries in Bangladesh is still a great concern. Please continue to pray for God’s protection over them. 

1 September 2017

The National Disaster Response Coordination Centre in Bangladesh has reported that 132 people have died in the last two weeks due to flooding. The floods have destroyed crops all over the country. Floodwaters are receding, but wells for drinking water have been contaminated, which is starting to cause health issues.

22 of our church partners along with 964 Compassion-sponsored children are still affected. Thanks to local resources and funds from RESPOND, they are supplying people in these communities with items, including dry food, such as rice and lentils, cooking oil, and water purifying tablets. 

Please continue to join us in praying for safety for all children and families in the region. 

21 August 2017

The monsoon season in Bangladesh has continued to bring heavy rains throughout the country. In fact, the widespread flooding across south Asia has now impacted an estimated 16 million and thought to have taken the lives of 500.* 

Our Bangladeshi church partners located near rivers are at greatest risk. At this time, the northwestern area of the country is most affected due to water running down the Indian mountains. All local schools have been closed because of flooding in the area, which is not receding due to continuous rainfall. There is a lack of drinking water and proper shelter, which has increased the risk of waterborne diseases.

Since the initial reports in June, four additional Compassion projects and 94 Compassion-supported children have been impacted. Children and their families have taken shelter in relatives’ homes or nearby schools. Many have lost homes, livestock and farmland, and are in need of food. Our church partners are providing emergency supplies thanks to provision from our RESPOND fund. 

Please pray for:

• Protection, strength, patience and security for affected families across Bangladesh and south Asia during this difficult time.
• A break in the rain so the floodwaters can recede.
• The provision of dry food, potable water and saline.
• Roads to be cleared so that emergency supplies can be transported to those in greatest need. 

We will keep this newsfeed updated as soon as further information becomes available. We will contact you directly if your sponsored child has been affected by the flooding in Bangladesh. 

5 july 2017

Our church partners in southeastern Bangladesh estimate that around 350 children have been affected by the recent rain and the subsequent flooding and landslides. Many have lost homes, and their families have lost livelihoods as cultivated lands, paddy fields and fruit gardens were damaged by flooding, which left thick mud after the water receded. These communities depend largely on agriculture, so Compassion Bangladesh is taking steps to assist beneficiaries with food and the cost of home repairs.

Please continue to pray for safety and provision for children and families in the area. Pray for protection as the monsoon season is just beginning in Bangladesh. 

26 June 2017

Our Bangladesh office confirms that two of our church partners have suffered significant damage due to the flooding. They are both located in extremely rural areas and due to the remoteness and lack of infrastructure, it is proving difficult to respond to their needs. 

The team from Pangkhua Para Child Development Centre lost all of their office documents and while floodwaters have now receded, the premises is covered in thick mud. Jamunachari Child Development Centre is located on a hill and the project staff had more time to save some of their essential documents and office supplies thanks to the help of children’s parents and members of the community.

Many in neighbouring villages near the riverbed lost their homes to flooding and landslides and have temporarily moved in with friends or relatives who live on higher ground. Members of the community say they have never seen flooding like this in their area before.

19 June 2017

Just days after Cyclone Mora passed over southeast Bangladesh, heavy rains fell, causing flooding and landslides in the same area. Some parts of the country received over 300 mm (almost 12 inches) of rain in 48 hours. The most affected region is a mixture of small hills and low-lying plains, including the districts of Chittagong, Rangamati and Bandarban. Communication with the area is a challenge due to no electricity and blocked roads, making rescue and relief efforts very difficult.

Please join us in praying for safety for all children and families in the region. Please also pray for:

• An improvement in weather conditions so that the relief and recovery efforts can be effective.
• Communication lines to be restored and roads cleared.
• Encouragement and provision for those in the area affected by multiple disasters.

1 June 2017

On Tuesday 30 May, Typhoon Mora swept across southeastern Bangladesh, carrying 72 mph winds and heavy rains. Many regions experienced severe flooding, including Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf. An estimated 17,000 houses were destroyed and 35,000 were damaged. According to the latest reports, six people lost their lives.

Compassion Bangladesh shares that 128 children in our programme have lost homes and their families have lost livelihoods. Four of our church partners have been directly impacted. 

Please join us in praying for all children and families who are facing great loss. 

_{Sources: BBC News, Aug 17}