Older people in Bangladesh face a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale

The August 2024 floods are the worst humanitarian disaster in the history of southeastern Bangladesh. 545 municipalities across 11 districts have been submerged, severely impacting both urban and rural areas.

A catastrophic impact

Triggered by relentless heavy rainfall in August 2024 and overflowing rivers in both Bangladesh and India, the floods have affected approximately 5.8 million people according to the National Disaster Response Coordination Group in Bangladesh. Thousands of homes, particularly those in the vulnerable, low-lying char areas, have been destroyed, leaving many trapped in floodwaters. The toll is tragic: at least 59 lives have been lost, including six women and 12 children (according to latest reports). Nearly 310,000 older people have been directly impacted, many still at great risk.

The flooding has also devastated the region’s agriculture, with around 296,852 hectares of crops damaged. While waters are beginning to recede in some areas, others—especially Cumilla, Feni, Lakshmipur, Noakhali, and Chattogram—remain submerged, leaving people stranded. Access to these areas has been exacerbated by the submersion of rural roads and electricity outages. In Noakhali, over 50% of the affected areas remain unreachable by local authorities and frontline responders.

YPSA’s rapid response

In the face of this crisis, HelpAge’s network member in Bangladesh, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), has been actively responding on the ground. Coordinating closely with local authorities, YPSA has been rescuing, evacuating, and providing urgent relief to those in need the most, focusing on children, older people, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women. To date, YPSA has supported 102,680 people, delivering essential supplies including shelter, food packs, hygiene kits, and cash-based transfers.

Immediate needs for recovery

Despite the receding waters, the path to recovery is long and filled with challenges. Families are returning to their homes only to find them destroyed. Household items and crucial documents have been lost, roads and bridges have been severely damaged, and over 7,000 schools have closed due to flooding. Additionally, waterlogging and lack of access to clean water have led to a sharp increase in waterborne and skin diseases.

Older people are particularly vulnerable, with many struggling with mobility issues and pre-existing health conditions. Ruhul Amin, a 69-year-old resident of Feni Sadar, recalls, “I have never seen so much water in my life. Everything we have is lost. My walking stick and glasses were swept away, and now I have trouble moving.”

A call for continued support

Moving forward, YPSA remains committed to ongoing emergency relief efforts, ensuring that the most vulnerable, particularly older people, receive the support they desperately need. However, the road to recovery will require continuous allocation of resources and targeted interventions to help the flood-affected communities rebuild their lives and livelihoods.