Floodwater in Kurigram is receding but on the way it revealed several critical problems for the vulnerable population here as thousands of people have lost the means of living a dignified life. Plan International Bangladesh, an  international development organization, emphasized the need for comprehensive support for the adversely affected  population. Josna, a young woman from Nageswari, found her house submerged in flood water which left her life in uncertainty. “This single flood has turned our daily life upside down. Wherever I look, there’s nothing except floodwater. My family is suffering from food shortage, but there are other challenges for me too. How would I maintain my menstrual hygiene? “ said Josna. Also read: Sirajganj’s flood situation improves, people’s sufferings continue To stand beside people like Josna, Plan International Bangladesh has distributed food and non-food items among the flood-affected families in Kachakata and Ballaberkhash unions of Nageswari Upazila of Kurigram district. The response focuses on the needs of young women and girls. Some 5560 packets of dry food, 1,00,000 water purification tablets, 1840 Non-Food Items (NFI), and 1820 Menstrual Health Management (MHM) kits have been distributed during the first phase of the response. Morjina, another young woman from Nageswari, shared, “As we don’t  have any options to cook food receiving dry food is a great relief for us. The menstrual hygiene kits are also essential, as we cannot even share this problem with others in this crisis.” Mahidev Jubo Somaj Kallayan Somity is supporting Plan International Bangladesh as a partner in implementing this response. Ashik Billah, Head of Central & Northern Region of Plan International Bangladesh, Shahadat Hossain Chairman of Kachakata Union Parishad, and SM Abdur Razzak, Chairman of Ballaberkash Union Parishad, were present at the distribution point. “From media reports, we know that around 2 lakh people in Kurigram have become homeless due to this flood. Plan International Bangladesh has been the first responder in Nageswari since the flood hit the community. However, we cannot ensure the protection of the entire community by ourselves. We all need to come forward in a joint effort”, said Ashik Billah. Also read: Flood Water receding, but not the diseases, food, and water crisis “Children are getting sick due to water-borne diseases. The sufferings of pregnant women and new mothers are beyond our imagination. Strengthened health facilities have become a crying need now”, he added. Plan International Bangladesh pledges to continue responding to this area, focusing on child protection, gender-based violence, and education along with the needs of girls and young women.

People in flood-hit Kurigram district are suffering increasingly due to lack of pure drinking water, food and sanitation. Though water levels of almost all rivers have subsided to a large extent, some are still flowing above the danger mark. Still two lakh people in nine upazilas of the district are homeless. While some people have taken refuge in a number of temporary shelter homes, others are in makeshift tents on the roadside. Read: US to provide emergency flood relief for people in northern Bangladesh:Envoy According to the District Relief and Rehabilitation Centre, 1.41 lakh people have been rendered homeless. On the other hand, some 361 shelter homes have been set up in the district. Some 160 people have taken shelter in three temporary homes in Nageshwari upazila, officials said. Besides, 325 educational institutions have been closed due to the worsening flood situation in the district.