Feni flood victims start returning home from shelter

At least two lakh people of six upazilas of Feni district had taken refuge in various shelters during the recent floods. As the flood water has started to recede, the victims have started returning home from the shelters in some areas from today (26 August) morning.

However, visiting different villages of Chhagalnaiya and Sadar Upazila of Feni district, it was seen that there is still water in some places. And in places where there is no water, houses have been filled with garbage. It will take at least two days to make the place liveable, according to flood victims.

These areas are now experiencing severe shortage of drinking water. The tube wells are damaged. The crops in the fields have been destroyed. The fishes in the ponds have been washed away. Poultry and cattle farms are left with nothing.

Morjina Akhter, a flood-affected woman of Gopal Union, told TBS that when the water rose up to chest-level in her house, she swam and with the help of rescue workers went to a relief shelter on a boat.

"I returned home on Monday morning after 5 days from the relief shelter. All the furniture in my house have been destroyed, while the food items are all gone. Though we got food at the shelter centre, we don't know what to do now."

There is also shortage of products in the market. Those who returned from shelters are at a loss as to what they should do.

They demanded the administration to coordinate the relief distribution programme to ensure that everyone gets relief.

Feni district Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (acting) Sultana Nasreen Kanta told TBS that all six upazilas of Feni were affected by floods.

"About 200,000 people in flood-affected areas stayed in shelters. As of yesterday, around 150,000 were there in the shelters. Some people are returning home today. It will take two more days for the flood situation to return to normal, she added.