Starving for food

That the flood affected regions of the haor areas would be wiping out food resources for thousands of people was a well known fact. This isn't the first time it has happened in Bangladesh. Yet, we find that for residents of many upazilas including Bishwambarpur, entire families have to travel inordinate distances to get to Open Market Sale (OMS) points only to find that supplies finished before they arrived. Points selling OMS rice and flour have not been adequately stocked for the relief operations that come when floods wipe out normal food stocks of communities and we are at a loss to understand why the concerned ministry did not take steps as the flood was unfolding over the last few weeks.

Only now when these flashfloods have literally wiped out the Boro paddy over thousands of hectares of land, and rice and flour cannot be found in many areas are authorities waking up to ground realities. Although the OMS operation began on April 9, it failed to take into account how many ultra poor families were affected in the region where the flooding has effectively disrupted the supply chain of essential food supplies. Disturbingly enough, allegations have arisen that graft is also involved where some unscrupulous agents are selling off OMS rice to local restaurants, which is simply aggravating an already strained food supply.

We urge authorities, particularly the food ministry, to make provisions for food essentials well in advance of any natural calamity such as floods, particularly in light of the fact that floods are a common disaster in our country. For now, relief, especially food to those in flood-hit haor areas, must be expedited on an emergency basis.