Floodlands Shatkira Bangladesh 2009

Makeshift houses along roadside

Toilet serves the community

Mango trees dying from being submerged

Kids playing in spite of the hardships

 A bridge to the road

This highschool is not operational due flooding

This is the road to the primary school, now underwater

Tala Upazilla of Shatkira district in Bangladesh was once a place where people could grow rice, pulses, vegetables, and have fruit trees.  For the past four plus years the rivers have become increasingly clogged and water can't flow out into the sea, leaving people waterlogged for up to seven months of the year.  The people's homes are typically made of mud, which become engorged with water and collapse.  Some who are able to build their houses on higher foundations or use cement or bricks, are perhaps able to stay in their homes, but larger numbers are forced to relocate to temporary shelters on the roadside or in public areas such as school grounds.  Obviously there are health and safety issues, not to mention the pain and stress of having your livelihood, your home, your food sources... being wiped out year after year after year.  We are working with a local NGO to put in tubewells that will be raised above flood levels so that they will be accessible and remain uncontaminated year round.