Devastation, disease: Relief, medicine scarce

Food and fodder equally important... Tangru of Kodomtoli village in Kurigram on a raft taking a small bundle of straw he managed for his cows sheltered on a high land. PHOTO: STAR

When contacted, Kurigram Civil Surgeon Giasuddin however said, "Eighty-six medical teams, some headed by medical officers, have been formed to combat diarrhea and other contagious diseases in flood affected villages in the district."

The diarrhea situation is under control in Kurigram, he said.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Dirrhoea killed one Mukul of Charneoji in Rajibpur upzila four days back and attacked 1400 people in nine upzilas of the district since July 1, he said.

Unofficial sources however claimed that three persons died and about 3000 have been attacked with diarrhoea and other intestinal diseases.

Although medical teams are supposed to be in the flood affected villages with medicine, no worker was seen at the spots, villagers alleged.

The chairmen of the affected unions urged the authorities concerned to send mobile teams to villages.

Utterly inadequate relief materials made the situation haywire as thousands of people in the affected district are passing days virtually without food.

According to the District Relief and Rehabilitation Office (DRRO), 662 tonnes of rice, Tk 7.20 lakh, 100 pieces of sariees, 200 tins of biscuit, were distributed among the flood affected people in Kurigram.

According to official records, 1,86,653 families in nine upzilas in Kurigram are flood affected. The number is about two lakh, according to NGOs and other social organizations.

More 55000 families are still marooned.

With recess of floodwater in some areas, many of the families have started returning home. But they are worried due to lack of food and drinking water and bleak prospects for cultivating Aman crop as seedbeds on 30500 hectors out of 110000 have been damaged in the district. It is high time now for transplanting Aman seedlings.

Fodder crisis had added to the problem as straw heaps on backyards and grass on fields have been totally damaged, many farmers said.

According to villagers in Rajibpur, nine cows and two goats died without fodder in last ten days.