Flood-Hit Areas: Thousands vulnerable to virus transmission
Exposed to highly contagious coronavirus, some persons of the flood-struck areas in Bangladesh are now residing in congested shelters and some on dykes.
They have very limited scope to keep social distance as large numbers of people have to stay in a small places.
Furthermore, it is extremely difficult for them to check out health guidelines like cleaning hands with soaps, wearing masks and others. In fact, they happen to be struggling for food aswell.
Government officials in the regions said they were trying to help make the people aware about maintaining social range and following health recommendations.
Our correspondents from several districts reported on the problem.
In Gaibandha, around 5,256 flood-hit people took shelter in 88 flood centres.
Mohtab Uddin, chairman of Uria Uninion Parishad in Fulchari upazila of the district, said around 700 people took shelter in one small flood centre found in Kabilpur area.
"How can they maintain social distancing?" he asked.
Contacted, the district's civil doctor ABM Abu Hanif said, "We send health workers in flood centres frequently to create them [the in shelter] alert to social distance."
In Bogura, around 1,200 people took shelters in three flood centres of several upazilas.
Our correspondent visited those shelters and found the flood centres to come to be over populated.
Asar Ali Shekh, who've taken shelter in Mohila Badh (dam) in the Jamuna river found in Sariakandi upazila, said, "We heard about Covid-19. But our homes washed away around a week ago.
"That is why, we've taken shelter here. I think coronavirus have not really reached here. Therefore, it is not essential for us to keep social distance."
Around 70-year-old man Azhar Ali, a resident of Sungar char less than sariakandi upazila, said, "I've never heard about interpersonal distancing. We are struggling for food crisis. We are in need of food, not social distancing."
Contacted, Foyej Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Bogura, said UNOs were going to these damaged areas and telling persons to keep social distance.
"But I think all of the flood centres could not be visited within very short time," he added.
In Lalmonirhat, flood-hit persons do not maintain sociable distance or follow health guidelines as they are desperately looking for food and relief.
"We have found out about social distancing to prevent the distributed of coronavirus. But we can not maintain it as happen to be hungry. We need foodstuff. Whenever, we check out anyone distributing pain relief, we altogether swoop on pain relief," explained Fazal Miah, a flood-hit gentleman of Khuniyagachh village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.
Contacted, Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Kamruzzaman Sujon explained, "We've asked the guys to keep social distancing. However the people don't follow it."
In Sirajganj, over 500 flood-hit people took shelter at the flood protection embankment in Shuvogacha village in Kazipur upazila.
Jahanara Begum, a flood-hit girl of Shuvogacha village, said they cannot even arrange pure water.
"We happen to be struggling to survive. Now, we've scope to take into account public distancing," she added.
Contacted, the district's Alleviation and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) Abdur Rahim said, "The persons do not follow medical rules. We want to generate the flood victims aware of health rules. However they are careless."
In Kurigram, similar circumstance is prevailing as much flood-hit people are living in a small places with very limited scope for cultural distancing.
"We you live here with a great many other people. It is extremely crowded place. We've no scope to keep social distance below," explained Azizar Rahman, a flood victim of Jattrapur Char in Kurigram Sadar upazila.
Another victim Khabir Uddin stated around 250 families stayed on 300-metre long dyke for about a week. He together with his family came back home on Fri as flood normal water receded from his residence.
"But we will be in threat of being infected with coronavirus," he added.
Meanwhile in Tangail, most fresh areas have already been inundated and river erosion own started as water about the Jamuna river raised.
Our Bogura, Lalmonirhat, Pabna and Tangail correspondents contributed to the report.
Source: www.thedailystar.net
