This year’s Monsoon in South Asia killed more than 1,000 people and displaced millions. There is a fear of rising death toll due to the constant rain penetrating the entire region.

Around 41 million people in Bangladesh, India and Nepal are deeply affected by the flooding and landslides. United Nations (UN) humanitarian agencies are working with the Government and partners in Nepal to supply clean water, food, shelter and medical aid to those affected in this region.

While flooding in Houston undoubtedly grasped more attention, a disaster is unraveling in the South Asia region. Bangladesh, India and Nepal are all developing nations and neighbours who unfortunately are facing the same circumstances.

More than tens of thousands of homes, schools and hospitals have been destroyed. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said, “there is the possibility that the situation could deteriorate further as rains continue in some flood-affected areas and flood waters move south”.

Animals such as elephants were used as means of transport to rescue flood victims and rafts were built from bamboos and banana leaves.

Nepal faced intense flooding and landslides in the least developed parts of the country, where people lived in bare mud houses and generally relied on farming for their incomes. Now with the farms gone underwater, more than thousands of families have been displaced and are facing water borne diseases.

India has faced tremendous flooding across the states of Assam, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and other areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew over the devastation caused by the flooding and landslides in Bihar, to which “he pledged millions of dollars in assistance and urged insurance companies to send in assessors as soon as possible to help farmers cope with their losses”.

The heavy rains have caused a series of devastation in Bangladesh as well. A low-lying and densely populated country of 165 million, Bangladesh is chronically ravaged by flooding.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent mentioned that despite the dangerous floods have started to move further off, a large number of  people are still in immediate need of food, clean water, sanitation facilities and support to rebuild or repair their homes.

Any form of help provided to the people in these affected areas will be an ounce of hope for them to restart their lives. It could be monetary help or sending items in bulk through charity organisations. Reach out to organisations who provide legitimate aid if you can, and keep praying for their circumstances to get better.

Maria Khan Safi