The Effects of the Bangladesh Floods July / August 2004. Flooded areas – worst affected areas in north eastern regions this time – Meghna river. This year's floods hit all 27 districts in the north-eastern state of Assam, with thousands still marooned.

About two-thirds of the low-lying nation is under water in the worst floods in 15 years. The capital, Dhaka, is among the worst-hit areas. Death toll exceeded 800 as of August 4 About 60% of the capital city Dhaka has gone under dirty floodwaters polluted with sewage, exposing 5 million people to serious health hazards.

At least 100 more people are being reported killed in Bangladesh floods, taking the death toll from three weeks of devastation to almost 400 in the country, and over 1,100 in South Asia. Bangladeshi officials say new deaths were reported from across the country as a result of drowning, disease, snakebites and house collapses. Early reports

Demographic Effects Almost a million dwellings have been destroyed, more than 3,000,000 damaged and millions of inhabitants temporarily or permanently displaced.

This year's floods have had a terrible effect on more than 33 million people

Affected Families 4,756,049 Affected Population 23,469,172 Reported Deaths 277 July 27th Figures lower Problem grew

Social Effects: The UN Country Team (UNCT) has identified urgent needs in the sectors of food, agriculture, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, family shelter, education, protection, economic recovery and infrastructure, and coordination and information management over the next six months.

Destroying houses …As the floodwaters recede, the scale of the disaster is becoming clearer. Six million people are living in makeshift shelters, their homes destroyed. 18.8.04 Over 600 people have died, with most deaths caused by drowning, snakebites, or waterborne diseases

… crops, livestock and essential rural and urban infrastructure … crops, livestock and essential rural and urban infrastructure. Further floods associated with the monsoon and cyclone seasons remain a real possibility over the next six months. Infrastructure disruption – social and economic impacts

Around 20 million families are in need of emergency relief.

Infrastructure blockages mean aid / relief can’t get to remote rural areas quickly. So the suffering and the death toll rises.

International Attention and Aid. Bangladesh cannot cope alone.

Gastro-enteric and other diseases are rife as millions of clean water sources have been contaminated and sanitation facilities disrupted.                                                                                                                                                  A disease outbreak in the aftermath of the flooding : c. 1000 patients a day Water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid and scabies are spreading rapidly.

Schools have been closed or used as emergency shelters for homeless people.

Economic Effects: Railway men try to sandbag Teestamuk Ghat Station at Balashi in Gaibandha to protect it from raging floodwaters. The government is asking for "any form of assistance" from any government or agency. It estimates the damage so far at £140 million. Nearly 500,000 tonnes of rice has been ruined in the fields.

More than 2,000,000 acres of agricultural land have been submerged and countless crops ruined.

Economic Damage costs are higher in urban areas like Dhaka – with damaged shops and factories with high repair bills. About 60% of Bangladesh is under water, and millions are homeless. Damage is put at $7bn.

Rescue attempts cost money and further damage the economy of Bangladesh - that can ill afford the burden.

ADB Approves $180 Million Loan for Emergency Flood Damage Rehabilitation in Bangladesh (A.D.B. = Asian Development Bank) … the combined losses to assets and output amounted to at least $2.3 billion or 3.9% of gross domestic product… affected 36 million people, or about 25% of the population …. with heavy losses to agricultural and industrial output Floods are costing the garments sector around $3m a day

The floods have meant that many garments factories are running below capacity It's money the owners and impoverished Bangladeshis can ill afford to lose. The factories directly employ two million people and garments account for nearly 80% of all export earnings. The factory owners are paying for mobile clinics. Doctors set up consulting rooms on the back of trucks. A long queue of workers waited for oral rehydration salts for diarrhoea and ointment for skin infections contracted in the water. (Social Effects)