The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A group of international humanitarian organisations has called for a coordinated emergency response to help more than 161,000 people affected by recent floods in Jessore and Shatkhira districts in the south-west of the country.

At a joint meeting in the city yesterday they said more than 66,000 families are living in temporary shelters in the flood-affected areas, unable to cultivate any crops in the coming season.

Oxfarm GB, Action Aid, Save the Children UK and USA, Care, Concern Worldwide, Dan Church Aid, Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid warned that thousands of people, including children could be at risk of a 'secondary disaster' unless safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and temporary shelters were made available to the affected people.

The humanitarian groups calling it a "silent disasters" advocated for a long-term solution to mitigate the crises. They also said that the organisation have been sending their expert teams to assess the most urgent needs since the floods hit on October 5.