FROM THE FIELD
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is scaling up its work in Bangladesh – one of the countries worst affected by the Asian floods – to deliver crucial support to 1.2 million people.As the rains continue to sweep across the region, and great swathes of land remain flooded, the logistics of getting aid to those on isolated and distant islands is challenging.On Oshdomi chor, a small island in northern Bangladesh, the Red Crescent has just completed a distribution of relief items to 75 families in the area. The relief packs include rice, oil, salt, lentils, water purification tablets and clothes. For many, this is the first relief they have received since the flood water swept into their homes over a month ago.Relief"These items from the Red Crescent are the first relief I have seen," said 50-year-old Shanti, a widower who lives on the island with her two young sons. "When the water came, it was up to my neck and we had to break the house to shift it to a different place. Now I have no belongings and I am living on land which isn't owned by us so I could be asked to leave at anytime."The British Red Cross has raised more than £500,000 for the Asia floods which will assist people in Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Pakistan and India. With no crops, belongings, homes or livelihoods, millions of people face a daily struggle for survival. The Red Cross and Red Crescent has been on the ground delivering life-saving support since the floods began, but more funds are urgently needed in order to help those most in need.SurvivalForty-five year old Camilla is married and lives on Kottimari chor island with her husband and four children. Part of her home was destroyed when flood waters, coming up to her waist, swept through the rooms. "These relief items were very badly needed and will help my family survive a few days," she said. "I cannot say after that… we will try to find something. I will look for work and we will try to rebuild the house. I feel the Red Crescent is an organisation who can assist us. It works for the people who have nothing."Read British Red Cross blog from BangladeshRead more about our emergency response work overseasDonate to the Asia Floods AppealThe Asia Floods Appeal will cover people affected by past, present and floods that occur in the near future throughout the continent.[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
