BANGLADESH, Jun 21 – Islamic Relief is urgently responding to severe flooding that has devastated northeast Bangladesh, submerging communities and leaving many families homeless. Heavy rains and flash floods have affected around 1.6 million people in the Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Moulvibazar districts in the past three days.

Nearly 75% of Sylhet district is now flooded, with over half of its crops and paddy fields underwater, severely threatening local food security.

“Many families, including young children and elderly people, are now sleeping out in the open by the side of roads, with only plastic sheets to protect them from the heavy rain. Their homes have been washed away and they urgently need food, shelter, and other aid,” Enamul Haque, Islamic Relief Programme Manager in Bangladesh says.

Islamic Relief’s operations are also impacted, with one office under two feet of water. Despite these challenges, the organization is preparing to distribute dry food, hygiene kits to prevent waterborne diseases and cash grants for essentials. Initially, aid will reach 5,000 displaced people, with plans to expand further in the coming days and weeks.

Approximately 30,000 people have moved to shelter centers in Sylhet and Sunamganj, with numbers expected to rise. In total, 825,000 people are affected in Sylhet, 650,000 in Sunamganj, and 193,000 in Moulvibazar. The flooding is expected to continue for the next couple of weeks due to upstream water flow from India.

This disaster follows Cyclone Remal, which recently destroyed thousands of homes in Bangladesh. Islamic Relief aims to provide immediate relief and support, adapting its efforts to meet the evolving needs of the affected communities.