Thousands Of People Affected As Malaria And Dengue Hit South Asia Through Flood

In Bangladesh and Nepal,thousands of people are been affected with diarrhoea, malaria and dengue as the waters from the worst floods in a decade.

Over 1,400 people have died in the floods that have swept South Asia over the past two months and tens of thousands are living in tents, schools and even just under tarpaulins.

Martin Faller, deputy director of the International Federation of the Red Cross in the Asia-Pacific region said “These people need our help, and we are doing all we can to meet their needs,”.

About 13,000 people are ill with diarrhoea and respiratory infections in densely populated Bangladesh after floods in its north, where the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers broke their banks.

“Diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria and dengue are on the rise in some areas and we need support to prevent further death and suffering,” said Mozharul Huq, secretary general of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

In the Himalayan nation of Nepal, 26,944 cases of illness have been reported by district health facilities, while 39,712 people had been treated in health camps by Aug. 30, the health ministry said.

Although health officials were monitoring conditions in flood-affected areas to spot possible outbreaks, no epidemic has yet been reported, the ministry said in a status report.

Save the Children said some communities had been entirely wiped out in India’s eastern state of Bihar, just over the border from Nepal, with not a single building left undamaged.

The agency estimated 17 million children needed help with protection, health care and basic nutrition in India alone.