Among the refugees is Maleka with her husband and four children. They share the makeshift wooden hut, which is only 16 m2, with one more family.
The hut was hastily put op in the middle of the highway, after Maleka and her family fled with great haste from the swirling masses of water.
The floods, which have touched almost half of Bangladesh’s population, in no time washed away Maleka’s family’s house and all of their belongings.
The family is now living – together with 50 other families – in the middle of the highway, which is raised above ground level, in order to make it function as an embankment as well.
Loan sharks are in clover
The highway turned out to be the immediate rescue for the family, but a new peril is imminent.
Almost all of the family’s belongings were washed away, and the fields, where Maleka and her husband usually work to make a living, are under water.
Maleka has therefore been forced to borrow money from a private money lender.
With a monthly interest rate of 20% and the prospect of 2-3 months of unemployment, it will take many months before Maleka can manage to pay back the loan.
Emergency aid and reconstruction
The 50 families on the highway have received rice, biscuits, water and candles from DanChurchAid’s local partner Christian Council for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB).
The organisation is currently drawing up a plan for how best to help get the families back on their feet.
The reconstruction of houses, wells, dams, roads and schools is crucial for when the families can return.
The reconstruction must be carried out by local manpower. This means Maleka and the other families will be able to obtain jobs and make a living.
CCDB will also be distributing seed grains in order for the families to grow their own vegetables.
The water is slowly receding. Although Maleka’s house and all of her belongings have disappeared in the swirling waters, so that she and her family must start afresh, she is looking forward to returning to their old home.
By Jonas Nøddekær, Asia Coordinator in DanChurchAid