Agenzia Fides

Cox's Bazar (Agenzia Fides) - The heavy rains that have hit the southeastern part of Bangladesh have forced more than 20 000 people to flee from their homes in the districts of Cox's Bazar and Teknaf, where another 84 000 homes have been partially damaged. The new homeless are additional to the 400 000 people who have been forced to leave their homes and never to return due to flooding. Although the area of the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Teknaf is prone to such disasters, the severity of these floods is unprecedented and has surprised people. Never had a devastating cyclone hit the area. According to the "district relief and rehabilitation office" (DRRO), farmers and breeders have also been severely damaged. Chakari, one of the most heavily affected sub-districts, provides about 80% of the vegetables in this region. According to reports by a responsible of the organization CARE Bangladesh, the continuous rains are not new, what was surprising is the level of flooding which had never been reached. The main causes are wild deforestation of hills and nearby woods. Aid to victims are already underway, over 300 tons of rice and other nutritious food have been distributed. The next step will be to collect additional food, drinking water, building materials and other essential goods. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, thunderstorms and moderate rain are still expected. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 27/07/2011)