NAN-F-32
Flood
Geneva, Aug. 18, 2017 (Xinhua/NAN) A humanitarian crisis is unfolding across large areas in South Asia, with more than 16 million people affected by monsoon floods, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said on Friday.
The group said that the affected places were Nepal, Bangladesh and India.
The agency cited local authorities as saying that flood levels had already reached record highs in Bangladesh.
It said that water from major rivers such as the Jamuna had surpassed warning levels set since 1988, describing it as “deadliest floods`’ the country had ever faced.
“This is fast becoming one of the most serious humanitarian crises this region has seen in many years.
“Urgent action is needed to meet the growing needs of millions of people affected by these devastating floods,” the IFRC said in a statement Friday, citing its staff for Asia Pacific region.
It said that more than one-third of Bangladesh and Nepal had been flooded, and that the humanitarian crisis could get worse in the days and weeks ahead.
In Nepal, the IFRC said, many areas remained cut off after recent destructive floods and landslides, and many villages and communities were stranded without food, water or electricity.
According to the statement, Ratna Dhakhwa, Secretary-General of the Nepal Red Cross Society, said “this tragic flooding in Nepal has claimed at least 128 lives and 33 people are still missing.’’
In Bangladesh, the IFRC said, over 3.9 million people have been affected by the rising flood waters.
It said that floods were likely to get worse as flooded rivers from India poured into the low-lying and densely populated areas in the northern and central parts of the country.
In India, over 11 million people were reportedly affected by floods in four states across the north of the country.
India’s meteorological department forecast more heavy rains for the region in the coming days. (Xinhua/NAN)
OYE/OPI
====
Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole and Olisa Ifeajika