Hundreds starving in cyclone-hit areas of Bhola

Report Hundreds of people in cyclone-hit areas of Bhola are starving since Wednesday as all their belonging, including their houses, have washed away during the cyclone.

The government still couldn't provide sufficient relief to the people, that includes the people living in Char Shahjalal area of Bhola's Lalmohan upazila.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Habibul Hasan Rumi said, "On Saturday, we provided relief items to 47 families who were able to show their national identity cards (NID) to us."

"We verify their NID to be sure that they are permanent residents of Lalmohan upazila," he added.

"I told the rest of the families that if they can show their NIDs, they will be provided relief as well, I am not instructed to provide relief to people from other areas," added Rumi.

Nasir, a cyclone survivor from Char Shahjalal said, "Government gave us only 10kg rice for each family on Saturday."

"But those who received the rice had to spend Tk200 per head as transport fare to go to Upazila Sadar from this char."

Salam, one of those who did not get relief said, "Sixty families are living in this area for years but UNO provided relief to only 47 families."

"The 47 families who got the relief are now sharing the food with us," added Salam. Mosleh Uddin, one of the cyclone survivors said,

"We have to live in the broken house as each of the houses here has been damaged partially or completely in the cyclone."

"We do not have enough money to repair the houses immediately," he added.

Speaking about the housing situation in the cyclone-hit areas, the UNO said, "We are assessing the house damage in our area and the information gathered will be sent to the ministry within a very short time to get further assistance on the matter."

"Ministry will provide the victims with the necessary assistance including money and house building goods," he added.

Like these people, hundreds more in twenty-one chars of Bhola are passing their days under immense adversity after losing their houses, foods and belongings in the super cyclone Amphan.

In Bhola, super cyclone Amphan affected around 3,18,568 people with one casualty. Around 1600 houses were damaged partly while 332 houses were fully destroyed. Around 34.6km road and embankments have been destroyed as well.