Severe food crisis in 13 Khulna villages
20,000 people marooned in saline water for 2 months: Many left homes as there is no means of livelihood
A severe food crisis is prevailing in 13 villages in Koira upazila of Khulna district, where over 20,000 people are marooned in saline water for about two months.
A large number of people have already left their homes in search of food and shelter elsewhere.
Saline water entered the villages due to collapse of cross dams which are to be reconstructed by water Development Board.
At least 6,000 houses were damaged by flood which washed away shrimps from enclosures covering over 15,000 bighas, locals said.
The floods damaged Aman crops on over 13,000 bighas, said Koira Upazila Nirhabi Officer (UNO) Arif Pasha.
Five persons so far died from diarrohea that broke out in some of the flood affected villages. Locals alleged that they died without treatment, which is yet to be provided in the area, they claimed.
Talking to this correspondent, former lawmaker Shah Mohammad Ruhul Quddus said a severe food crisis prevails in all the 13 villages and a large number of people virtually passing days amid starvation.
Only 20 tonunes of rice were distributed last month on behalf of Khulna district administration which was not even one-tenth of the need, he said.
Ruhul Quddus was elected in last parliamentary election from Khulna-6 (Koire--Paikgacha) constituency.
Food and medicines should be sent to the area immediately to save the people from starvation, said Koira upazila Press Club president Mostafa Shafiqul Islam.
He said no NGO so far provided any relief to the marooned people, neither any donor agency responded to their appeal for help to overcome the crisis.
He demanded that the area be declared disaster affected area and urged the government to rush food and medicine the 13 villages.
UNO Arif Pasha said he is trying to help them, but resources are needed for that.
WDB engineer Abdul Matin said tender would floated soon to reconstruct the collapsed cross dams. “I have nothing more to say at this moment”, he told this correspondent when contacted.
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