Food shortage adds to flood woes for haor people

People allege rampant corruption in enlisting victims for government relief

Hundreds of flood-hit victims in the haors (wetlands) of Sunamganj district have been left starving in the absence of relief materials from the government and NGOs.
The victims, mostly farmers, sit idle, gloomily staring at an uncertain future. They complained that work was hard to come by following the floods, and they did not know how they and their families would survive without food.
They point to their inundated crop lands, lamenting that they have lost their means of livelihood, as well as their belongings in the recent floods.
The picture was the same in the flood-hit villages of Asampur, Astoma, Hamdong, Parbotipur, Sultanpur and Sadarpur on Tanguar and Dekar "haors" in the north-eastern district.
The floods have not only washed away boro rice from large tracts of lands in all the "haors" in Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulavi Bazar, Netrokona and Kishoreganj districts, but also killed a large quantity of fish, leaving the farmers distressed.
Many of the affected farmers said they were forced to sell their cattle as they could not rear them due to food shortage.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to visit the "haor" areas on Sunday.
Yusuf Ali, 80, of Sopta Bordhon village said he had never seen such a deluge in his lifetime. “This is a curse of the Almighty,” he said.
Abdul Quayum, 55, a farmer of Asampur village, said he had lost all his crops cultivated on 15 bighas of land. “I along with seven members of my family have been starving since March 29. But there is no one to help us. Neither the union parishad member, nor the chairman has visited this place,” he alleged.
Asked whether he knew about the government’s announcement to distribute 30kg of rice and Tk. 500 in cash for each affected family, Quayum replied in the negative.
Some of the people alleged that there was rampant corruption in enlisting the victims for government relief.
Joygun Bibi, 60, of the Dekar "haor" said: “I have come to know that Tk. 100 was needed to be enlisted as a beneficiary.”
The deputy commissioner of Sunajganj district said they were preparing lists of the affected people with the assistance of local fisheries and agricultural officers. The DC said relief materials would reach the affected people as soon as possible.

The DC also assured that he would look into allegations that money was being taken from farmers to enlist them for relief.

Food shortage adds to flood woes for haor people

People allege rampant corruption in enlisting victims for government relief

Hundreds of flood-hit victims in the haors (wetlands) of Sunamganj district have been left starving in the absence of relief materials from the government and NGOs. The victims, mostly farmers, sit idle, gloomily staring at an uncertain future. They complained that work was hard to come by following the floods, and they did not know how they and their families would survive without food. They point to their inundated crop lands, lamenting that they have lost their means of livelihood, as well as their belongings in the recent floods. The picture was the same in the flood-hit villages of Asampur, Astoma, Hamdong, Parbotipur, Sultanpur and Sadarpur on Tanguar and Dekar haors in the north-eastern district. The floods have not only washed away boro rice from large tracts of lands in all the haors in Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulavi Bazar, Netrokona and Kishoreganj districts, but also killed a large quantity of fish, leaving the farmers distressed. Many of the affected farmers said they were forced to sell their cattle as they could not rear them due to food shortage. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to visit the haor areas on Sunday. Yusuf Ali, 80, of Sopta Bordhon village said he had never seen such a deluge in his lifetime. This is a curse of the Almighty, he said. Abdul Quayum, 55, a farmer of Asampur village, said he had lost all his crops cultivated on 15 bighas of land. I along with seven members of my family have been starving since March 29. But there is no one to help us. Neither the union parishad member, nor the chairman has visited this place, he alleged. Asked whether he knew about the governments announcement to distribute 30kg of rice and Tk. 500 in cash for each affected family, Quayum replied in the negative. Some of the people alleged that there was rampant corruption in enlisting the victims for government relief. Joygun Bibi, 60, of the Dekar haor said: I have come to know that Tk. 100 was needed to be enlisted as a beneficiary. The deputy commissioner of Sunajganj district said they were preparing lists of the affected people with theassistance of local fisheries and agricultural officers. The DC said relief materials would reach the affected people as soon as possible. The DC also assured that he would look into allegations that money was being taken from farmers to enlist them for relief.