Eastern Flood Response in Noakhali 2025

In July 2025, heavy monsoon rains combined with tidal surges and drainage failures triggered severe flooding across coastal and low-lying areas of Bangladesh. Noakhali District was among the worst affected, with widespread inundation, embankment breaches, infrastructure collapse, and the displacement of thousands of families. According to official reports, over 230,000 people were affected, including more than 44,000 households, while more than 12,000 individuals were forced to leave their homes and take shelter in temporary facilities.

Within Noakhali, the most severely impacted areas were Kabirhat Upazila (Ghoshbagh and Dhanshiri Unions) and Companyganj Upazila (Char Kakra and Char Fakira Unions). In these locations, families faced shortages of safe drinking water, food, and sanitation, while women, adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating mothers were at heightened risk due to overcrowded shelters and lack of privacy. Health risks such as diarrhea and skin infections increased with prolonged exposure to stagnant water. Education and essential services were also disrupted, with schools and health facilities closed.

Building on our decade-long collaboration, the project aimed to provide immediate relief to the most vulnerable households, particularly those headed by women, families living in temporary shelters, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. The intervention focused on multipurpose cash assistance to enable affected households to meet essential needs with dignity, the distribution of customised hygiene kits to address critical gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene, particularly for women and girls, and the dissemination of referral information to minimise risks of gender-based violence.

completed the distribution process to all 530 of the intended households in Kabirhat Upazila (Ghoshbagh: 132 and Dhanshiri: 134) and Companyganj Upazila (Char Kakra: 132 and Char Fakira: 132) BDT 6,000 and Hygiene Kits which were designed to meet their immediate needs for SRH, cleanliness, and protection. This effort was carried out by the Participatory Research and Action Network (PRAAN), with funding from the START Fund Network. Among the 530 households supported across Ghoshbagh, Dhanshiri, Sirajpur, and Char Fakira Unions, special consideration was given to families with members living with disabilities. In recognition of their additional needs and heightened vulnerabilities, 15 households with persons with disabilities received an extra allocation on top of the regular multipurpose cash grant.