The country reels under the onslaught of the floods which have been ravaging it for the last few weeks. In the northern districts, the rise in the water level of the rivers has inundated villages and created a situation where people have become prey to various water-borne diseases. In places like Tangail and Madaripur, tens of thousands of people have been left marooned by the floods. The large-scale devastation wrought by the floods will, it can be fairly assumed, take a long period to be rolled back given that crops have been ruined and homes have been damaged gravely in the emerging conditions. With roads under water and therefore a non-availability of transport to ferry them to safer places, people have been compelled to survive in a vulnerable situation in every flood-affected region. The vulnerability comes in the form of a lack of food, the inability for families to cook food and indeed a growing threat of epidemics breaking out.

The administration is being hugely exercised in the matter of providing relief to the flood-affected people. Of course, there have been complaints that relief materials have not reached or not properly reached certain areas. In grave conditions such as those that currently prevail, it is understandable that even for the authorities it is a challenge, almost insurmountable, to handle the crisis. Even so, the measures which have been taken and are being taken to tackle the situation are to be noted. What is of critical importance here is for organized steps at the local level, in every flood-affected region, to be undertaken by local lawmakers, upazila leaders and affluent sections in the community to complement the efforts of the central administration in the task of providing relief to those now marooned in the floodwaters. It is a job which cannot but be done on an emergency basis.

Beyond the floods, as the rivers slowly return to their normal levels, a coherent and well-planned strategy must be adopted to deal with post-flood conditions. Rehabilitation is of critical importance. The government will be expected to come forward with financial and other forms of aid, notably the provision of seeds for new crops to be grown. Meanwhile, with people having lost homes or seen them damaged and in a number of instances experienced a loss of cattle, adequate provision of help is called for. All of this will require a streamlining that must ensure efficiency and abjure corruption on the part of those called upon to implement the rehabilitation measures. Given the enormity of the damage caused, it is an expectation that ought not to end in disappointment.

And, yes, organizations and individuals outside government must pitch in with aid. We are confronting a national disaster and as a nation must tackle it collectively.