One Year After South-Eastern Floods, over 300,000 Rebuild with IFRC

One Year After South-Eastern Floods, over 300,000 Rebuild with IFRC

One year after the devastating south-eastern floods of 2024, more than 302,000 people in Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur – the hardest-hit districts, are rebuilding their lives with new livelihoods, shelter, healthcare, disaster risk reduction initiatives and many more. This more than year-long emergency and recovery operations till September 2025 made possible by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and partners.

From the earliest hours of the flood, BDRCS volunteers were on the ground, rescued 29,004 individuals with Army and Navy collaboration and providing urgent support, including safe water, food and cash assistance. As the flood water receded, efforts shifted toward long-term recovery to restore homes, health services, livelihoods, and hope for the worst-affected communities.

BDRCS and IFRC stood beside thousands of families to rebuild, and repaired, while over 1,400 new latrines have been constructed to ensure better sanitation. Thousand families have received livelihood grants to start small businesses and regain income. To help communities build back greener and stronger, over 100,000 tree saplings and 14,000 packets of vegetable seeds were distributed. Health access improved with the renovation and equipping of 15 Mother and Child Health (MCH) centres, while safe water ensured through 670 repair and newly installed tubewells. During the emergency response 47,492 flood affected families received BDT 6,000 each unconditional cash support, with extra support provided to families with disabilities.

‘I lost everything in the flood,’ said Rubina Khanam Kha, a mother of three from Noakhali. ‘Our house was washed away, and we had to live by the roadside. My husband is sick and two of my children have disabilities. With Red Crescent’s help, I rebuilt our home, built a latrine, and started a small business. My son now sells fish in the local market. We no longer beg on the streets. We can afford medicine, repay loans, and have food every day.’

Dr. Kabir M. Ashraf Alam, Secretary General of BDRCS, stated, ‘The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has always stood by communities in crisis. With support from IFRC and our partners, we’ve helped thousands of flood-affected families rebuild their lives and restore hope.  I am deeply grateful to our dedicated volunteers, staff and community mobilizers who made this recovery possible with their tireless commitment.’

Alberto Bocanegra, Head of Delegation, IFRC Bangladesh, said, ‘The resilience, courage, and determination shown by the flood-affected communities are truly inspiring. The IFRC and its membership remain committed to supporting Bangladesh in strengthening preparedness and resilience, so that communities are safer and better equipped for future challenges.’

In addition to recovery efforts, BDRCS and IFRC provided lifesaving services during immediate emergency phase of flood, distributing over 569,000 litres of safe drinking water; 248,700 water purification tablets, nearly 70,000 cooked meals, and 60,000 dry food packages. 16 mobile medical teams treated over 27,000 patients, while 3,681 people received psychosocial support. To prevent disease outbreaks, more than 155,000 packets of saline and oral rehydration solution and 18,000 dengue test kits were distributed. – Press release