Hundreds of Aila-hit people still homeless

10 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Hundreds of families in Dakope upazila of Khulna district, hit by May 25 cyclone Aila and tidal surge, are still living a miserable life under the open sky on high roads, embankments and makeshift tents as they are yet to be brought under rehabilitation programme. Several thousand homeless people have been living in subhuman conditions without food and safe drinking water. Inundation caused by collapse of embankments and rise in water level of rivers add to their sufferings, washing away the makeshift shelters. We have to pass sleepless nights fearing storm and tidal surges when Met office advises to hoist cautionary signal, said Debendra Nath Mandol, Ajibar Sheikh, Mobarak Gazi, Biswapati Roy and Abu Bakar Mir of Sutarkhali, Kamarkhola, Tildanga and Banishanta unions of the upazila. Aila and tidal surges completely damaged our houses and households and swept away our paddy, rice, cows, goats, ducks and hens. Now we are living at the risk of our lives on roads and embankments and at makeshift camps with hungry members of our families, they said. Ajit Bawali, Dhirendra Mandol, Wahab Gazi, Lokendra Nath Mistri and Ohibhusan Sana of Sutarkhali said they are yet to be rehabilitated despite their names being on the list of Aila-hit people. We do not get any job even to earn our livelihood, they added. Meanwhile, a large number of Aila-hit people of Dakope and Koira upazilas of Khulna district have come to Khulna Metropolitan city to look for jobs. But there is no job opportunity for them in Khulna city as mills and factories are running at a loss. Under this circumstances, many of Aila-hit homeless people are found pulling rickshaws and begging in different areas of Khulna city. A large number of Aila-hit people of Dakope and Koira upazilas are often seen wandering in front of Jute mills, IWTA terminal, food godowns, rail stations and bus stands to get jobs. They pass their nights at rail station and IWTA terminal or on Rupsha Bridge. When contacted, lawmakers Nani Gopal Mandol of Khulna-1 (Dakope-Batiaghata) and Advocate Sohrab Ali Sana of Khulna-6 (Koira-Paikgacha) were of the same opinion that fund allocated for rehabilitation of Aila-hit homeless people is scanty.