The home of 75-year-old Saleha Begum at Dashhalia in Koira of Khulna has been inundated by the high tide during Cyclone Yaas. She is now living with her family in knee-deep water.
Like Saleha Begum of Moharajpur union of the upazila, 210 flood-affected people have received the food assistance of Prothom Alo Trust.
Food packages were distributed at the grounds of Kalna Aminia Fazil Madrasa on Thursday noon. Members of Prothom Alo Khulna unit Bondhushava handed over the food packages to the people.
The packages included rice, lentils, oil, salt, potatoes, onions and soap. Saleha Begum, elated at receiving the gift, said, “This package will help my family to eat well for a few days.”
Talking about the knee-deep water in her house, she said, “We are in big trouble. I am waiting for the water to recede.” Embankments at the different areas of Koira upazila have been damaged and the locals have been voluntarily repairing the damage.
A total of 20 villages of Maharajpur union and nearby Bagali union were inundated with saline water following the breach of embankment along the Kopotakkho River.
Zarina Begum is also overjoyed getting the relief. Her husband Nurul Haque Sardar died several years back.
The 60-year-old Zarina works as a domestic help to earn a livelihood. She said, “I am happy to receive this relief. We are living in someone else's house as ours has been flooded”.
Anyone wanting to extend a helping hand to disadvantaged people may make a donation to Prothom Alo Trust/Relief Fund, Account No: 207 200 11194, Dhaka Bank Limited, Karwan Bazar Branch, Dhaka.
At the distribution event, Prothom Alo’s staff correspondent in Khulna Sheikh Al-Ehsan, vice-president of Bondhushava Khulna unit Uttam Tarafdar, general secretary Ashfiq Ahmed Siddique, joint general secretary Apurba Kumar, organising secretary Papon Kangsa Banik, women's affairs secretary Banani Afroz, publicity secretary Alfi Shahrin and 14 other members were present.