Médecins Sans Frontières - Emergency flood response in Bangladesh

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSB211201

Date taken / Date Recorded 17/09/2024 11:26 AM

Expiration date 18/10/2029

Country Bangladesh

Detailed location Noakhali

Photographer / videographer / producer Farah Tanjee

Copyright Farah Tanjee/MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) Advertising Campaign, External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available yes

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Maximum Size 2992px × 2992px 1.61 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Bangladesh, a low-lying coastal country, is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, especially flooding. The recent monsoon season has brought record rainfall, leading to widespread flooding across the country. 11 districts have been affected with over 5.4 million people displaced. The Noakhali and Feni districts located in the southeastern part of the country have experienced some of the most severe flooding. The closest river in Feni overflowed, inundating homes, farmlands, roads and infrastructures.In Noakhali, MSF supported the pediatric and adult wards, focusing on treating acute watery diarrhea (AWD) patients in the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital’s inpatient department. The hospital had seen a significant increase in the number of AWD cases right after the flood water started receding. The team disinfected and repaired broken tubewells (wells in which a long tube or pipe is bored underground) to ensure access to safe drinking water, and disinfected water tanks in the hospital to prevent the spread of diseases. Moreover, the team engaged with the community to train them on how to disinfect water sources or repair tubewells damaged by floodwater. We also distributed the necessary equipment for this work. MSF also distributed 1,000 kits containing mosquito nets, torches, soap, washing powder, diapers, toothbrushes, toothpaste and sanitary napkins in five locations of Kabirhat upazila with the support of local NGO. In Feni, MSF activities were limited only to water and sanitation and the team disinfected and repaired tubewells and provided training to the community. In total the water and sanitation team trained 45 volunteer teams in 45 villages in Noakhali and Feni.
On 4 October, we handed over the emergency intervention to the Ministry of Health as our support was framed as a response to acute needs for one month.