Humanitarian Aid from NCP to 2 Thousand People in Bangladesh Floods

Following the severe flood disaster that occurred in the Banshkhali upazila of the Chittagong (Chattogram) region of Bangladesh, a large-scale humanitarian aid operation has been launched by the National Citizens Party (NCP) Chittagong Metropolitan unit. Reaching the area to support the victims struggling with transportation, party volunteers directly distributed emergency need packages consisting of cooked meals and dry food supplies. Officials have mobilized to meet the needs of families trapped in submerged settlements, in particular. This relief effort stands out as a critical step towards meeting the most basic food needs of the local population while the initial shock of the disaster is being overcome. Fieldwork continues at an intense pace in order to mitigate the devastating effects of the disaster.

In this comprehensive fieldwork carried out on Friday (10 July), NCP members managed to reach the most remote corners of completely submerged union areas of Banshkhali. The teams overcame the dangerous floodwaters, which in some places reached their waists, by using the wading method to go directly to the doors of more than approximately two thousand victims. During this process, aid was delivered by visiting flooded homes and roads where transportation had become nearly impossible. It is observed that the distribution activity was carefully planned and carried out with the principle of leaving no one behind. Despite harsh natural conditions, the effort to reach the people has boosted the morale of the victims and prevented them from feeling alone.

According to the field assessments of NCP officials, the uninterrupted heavy rains affecting the region and sudden floods cascading from the hills have completely submerged a large area of the upazila. As a result of this unexpected disaster, countless people were forced to leave their homes and had to take shelter in various elevated areas to watch their submerged houses. The biggest problem for these trapped individuals has been the shortage of clean drinking water and regular food, which increases the risk of infectious diseases. The submergence of local markets and roads in the area has reduced the supply of provisions and drinking water to almost zero. Right at this point, the relief campaign initiated by the party aims to somewhat alleviate the dimensions of the critical crisis formed in the disaster zone.

Many prominent figures from NCP Chittagong Metropolitan took part in the field in person and directed this critical humanitarian operation on the ground. Alongside names such as Joint Member Secretary Arif Moinuddin, Joint Spokesperson Osman Gani, Joint Member Secretary Sadia Afrin, and Asif Chowdhury, Azgar Ali Ashik, Azad Chowdhury, and Hazinedar Emdadul Haq were also among the teams working hard. The leaders working personally in the muddy and dangerous waters significantly increased the motivation of the party volunteers. In his assessment, Arif Moinuddin stated that it is extremely difficult to fully grasp the deep agony and physical hardships endured by the victims in Banshkhali without seeing the field firsthand. All these field inspections provide critical data to determine the effects of the crisis on-site and for more comprehensive relief planning that can be done in the future.

Party officials emphasize that standing by the innocent people, who are physically and emotionally worn down by natural disasters, is an insurmountable humanitarian duty and social responsibility rather than a simple political choice. The NCP invites all segments of society, especially wealthy individuals, social service volunteers, and various civil society organizations in the city, to put aside political and ideological differences. It is stressed that these types of humanitarian relief operations will continue constantly until the waters in Banshkhali upazila completely recede, normal living standards are re-established, and agricultural life in the region returns. Additionally, the issue of finding permanent solutions to make the region more resilient against possible future disasters has been put on their agenda. The practical field experience gained during this process forms a model to be used in similar disaster situations that may occur in other parts of the country.