Bangladesh (MNN) — Flooding has killed dozens in northeast Bangladesh. It’s the worst flooding in over a century for the South Asian nation. Thousands have lost their homes and all their property.
Nehemiah with FMI says floodwaters have devastated rice crops, the main food staple for Bangladeshis. “When we were able to connect with our pastor, through our national leadership team, we were being told that they are struggling with the food crisis. Because the supply of food is being cut off to the villages.”
“And this is not one village or two villages. There are more than 300 villages being affected in the Sylhet area alone.”
Peter Mazumder with Asian Access says hundreds of Christian families watched their houses go underwater. They often find themselves at the end of the line for aid. “The Christians are not very much getting help. But the other groups are getting help. Christians need emergency help, especially the dry food, biscuits, mineral water, and some medicines.”
You can send help through Asian Access here and through FMI here.
Future
According to scientists, these extreme weather patterns in Bangladesh will likely get worse in the coming years. Nehemiah says, “This is one of the biggest signs of climate change. This kind of rain and flooding has never happened in the last 100 years in Bangladesh,
So why don’t people try to move? It’s not that easy, Nehemiah says. Culturally, Bangladeshis feel a very specific tie to living in a certain area. “When they live in one place, they just live there for generations and generations. They stay, even when such areas are hit by floods or any other natural disaster year after year.”
Prayer
Ask God to strengthen His Bangladeshi people with Jesus’ love. Nehemiah says, “We pray that the Lord would provide comfort to those who have lost everything.”
Pray also for the rescuers as they work to bring people in from the floodwaters.
The header photo shows children wading through the floodwater. (Photo courtesy of FMI)
