Across southern Bangladesh, communities are beginning the difficult task of rebuilding their lives after some of the most destructive monsoon flooding in recent years.Â
Chottogram, (formerly known internationally as Chittagong), together with neighbouring districts across the south east of the country, has experienced days of relentless rainfall, severe flooding and landslides that have claimed more than fifty lives, displaced nearly a million people and left widespread destruction in their wake.
As floodwaters gradually begin to recede, the full extent of the damage is becoming clear. Thousands of families have returned to homes filled with mud, damaged belongings and contaminated water. Roads have collapsed, bridges and culverts have been washed away, schools have been damaged and large areas of farmland have been left under water, making recovery far more challenging for the communities affected.
For many families, the greatest challenge begins once the water starts to disappear. Homes require extensive repairs before they are safe to live in again, crops have been destroyed, businesses have been forced to close and many people have lost the income they rely on to support their families. Damaged roads continue to delay the delivery of essential supplies while restricting access to healthcare, education and local markets, placing further strain on communities that have already endured days of uncertainty.
Official assessments continue to highlight the scale of the disaster. Tens of thousands of homes have been damaged across Chottogram Division together with hundreds of educational institutions, thousands of kilometres of roads and hundreds of bridges and culverts. Thousands of people remain in emergency shelters while many more are staying with relatives or neighbours as they begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.
Bangladesh is no stranger to flooding, yet each emergency presents new challenges for the families living through it. Heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers and landslides have combined to isolate entire communities, disrupt electricity supplies and leave many households without the ability to cook, clean or access safe drinking water. Even where floodwaters have fallen, stagnant water and damaged sanitation systems continue to increase the risk of illness, particularly for young children, older people and those with existing health conditions.
For Blackstone, Bangladesh is one of our core countries of operation. For many years we have worked alongside an extensive network of volunteers and staff to support vulnerable communities through emergency relief, sustainable development and long term humanitarian projects. Those relationships allow us to respond quickly when disasters strike and to reach families who need support most.
Our teams are already on the ground across affected communities, working with local volunteers to assess needs and deliver practical emergency assistance to families whose homes and livelihoods have been devastated by the floods.Â
As part of our emergency response, we are providing practical assistance that addresses both immediate and essential needs.
Food PackÂ
A £25 Emergency Food Pack provides one family with staple food including rice, lentils, oil, flour and other essential items to help them through this difficult period.
Hygine KitÂ
A £25 Emergency Hygiene Kit provides one family with essential supplies including Dettol, detergent, soap, oral rehydration salts (Orsaline), toothbrushes and sanitary towels, helping families maintain hygiene and dignity while reducing the health risks that often follow major flooding.
Family Kit
For £50, you can provide both a complete Emergency Food Pack and an Emergency Hygiene Kit, giving one family practical support as they begin to recover.
Every contribution helps us continue delivering assistance where it is needed most. Whether it is providing food for a family that has lost everything, supplying hygiene essentials to reduce the risk of illness or helping volunteers reach isolated communities, your support enables Blackstone to continue responding where help is urgently required.
The people of Chottogram have shown remarkable resilience in the face of immense hardship, but recovery cannot happen overnight. Homes must be repaired, livelihoods restored and communities rebuilt. With your support, Blackstone Trust can continue standing alongside families during the weeks and months ahead, delivering practical assistance that helps people recover with dignity
Please donate today and help us continue our emergency response across flood affected communities in Bangladesh.
