show adminpanel
Subscribe to new log entries

Archief

show archive
May 2023 (1)
show archive
January 2022 (1)
show archive
April 2021 (1)
show archive
February 2021 (1)
show archive
May 2020 (1)
show archive
April 2020 (1)
show archive
September 2019 (1)
show archive
August 2019 (1)
show archive
April 2019 (1)
show archive
January 2019 (1)
show archive
December 2018 (1)
show archive
September 2018 (1)
show archive
July 2018 (1)
show archive
April 2018 (1)
show archive
March 2018 (1)
show archive
February 2018 (1)
show archive
December 2017 (2)
show archive
September 2017 (1)
show archive
August 2017 (1)
show archive
June 2017 (1)
show archive
March 2017 (1)
show archive
December 2016 (2)
show archive
November 2016 (1)
show archive
October 2016 (1)
show archive
September 2016 (1)
show archive
August 2016 (2)
show archive
June 2016 (1)
show archive
May 2016 (1)
show archive
February 2016 (1)
show archive
January 2016 (1)
show archive
November 2015 (1)
show archive
October 2015 (1)
show archive
September 2015 (1)
show archive
July 2015 (1)
show archive
June 2015 (2)
show archive
April 2015 (2)
show archive
March 2015 (1)
show archive
February 2015 (1)
show archive
December 2014 (1)
show archive
October 2014 (1)
show archive
September 2014 (1)
show archive
August 2014 (2)
show archive
July 2014 (1)
show archive
June 2014 (1)
show archive
April 2014 (2)
show archive
March 2014 (2)
show archive
January 2014 (2)
show archive
December 2013 (1)
show archive
November 2013 (1)
show archive
October 2013 (1)
show archive
September 2013 (1)
show archive
August 2013 (1)
show archive
July 2013 (2)
show archive
June 2013 (1)
show archive
May 2013 (1)
show archive
April 2013 (2)
show archive
March 2013 (1)
show archive
February 2013 (1)
show archive
January 2013 (1)
show archive
December 2012 (2)
show archive
November 2012 (1)
show archive
October 2012 (2)
show archive
September 2012 (3)
show archive
August 2012 (1)

Flood in Northwest Bangladesh

Written by Antje on September 5th 2017 14:40

In my last blog, I wrote that the rainy season is in full swing here. On that day, I took the pictures below of the planting of the rice. I couldn’t know yet then that it would rain for 2 days without interruption, raining as much in two days as it would normally rain in the entire month!

01_IMG_3310.jpeg

At the end of that rain, my view was this:

02_IMG_3315.jpeg

There was also water on our property, but with limited damage. In several locations, water threatened to enter the houses, but for us the rain stopped just in time. Unfortunately, a few snakes entered the houses!

In the immediate surroundings of the hospital, the damage was limited. In the past 2 weeks, the water resided sufficiently so that they could plant the rice anew. A portion of the recently planted rice had died, but part of it survived. People try to plant anew in the fields where most plants have died. Unfortunately, these plants are now more expensive because of the increased demand.

A little further away from the hospital, the rain and floods have caused more damage. In the provincial capital of Dinajpur, a dike broke through and part of the city was flooded. Also, part of a railway track on a dike between our town of Parbatipur and Dinajpur have been washed away, with the result below. The trains that I hear very clearly through my bedroom window will not ride for two weeks. To my amazement, it only took 2 weeks to repair the tracks, so this week, the trains are riding again.

03_Screen Shot 2017-09-01 at 09.18.02.png

04_IMG_3931.jpeg

Below are some pictures from the news of the floods. On this map, I have indicated about where we are amidst all these floods:

05_Screen Shot 2017-09-01 at 09.31.28 copy.png

06_Screen Shot 2017-09-01 at 09.16.50.png

07_Screen Shot 2017-09-01 at 09.17.31.png

08_Screen Shot 2017-09-01 at 09.33.48.png

An additional problem in our region is that traditionally, houses are build form clay. These homes cannot sit in water for very long, so they collapse (I don’t have any picture of this). It’s always the poorer people who live in the lower areas and who have the worst houses, who are hardest hit by these floods.

Our project has been asked to cooperate with UNFPA (United Unations Populations Fund) for emergency relief help. This is not in our immediate surroundings, but in the larger working area of our community health and development department. We have local staff on location that can help to ensure that the help reaches those who need the help most. Relief aid will consist of food supplies, help with mobile stoves, and a number of health clinics.

This week, we had an evening to make emergency packages, which include soap, disinfectant and a blanket. We also made packages with rice, lentils, oil and salt. The picture below didn’t turn out very well, but the show volunteers making these packages. That will take place several more times in the next few weeks.

09_IMG_3944.jpeg

The hallway in which we filled bags with rice and lentils:

10_IMG_3946.jpeg

In summary, personally I suffer no further consequences of the floods, but in the wider area these are certainly very noticeable. On the other hand, the country is getting ready for the Eid Festival (Muslim sacrifice feast). Cows and goats are sold everywhere, and made ready for the sacrifice ritual tomorrow. Busses and trains over overflowing with travelers, leaving the cities to go to their villages.

Concerning my work: yesterday we had a visit of the Civil Surgeon, the highest health authority in our district, to inspect us for our hospital license. We have a new Civil Surgeon, and he was very positive about what he saw, so we hope to get the license again for another year.

 

Below you can watch the video of which a few screen shots were taken.