Over 7 million people have been impacted by weeks of flash flooding in northeastern Bangladesh, with women and children now at a particularly high risk of drowning, violence, deadly health complications like diarrhea, and water-borne diseases.

According to UNICEF, 3.5 million children now urgently need safe drinking water.

At the same time, the flood-affected region has seen almost all public bathrooms and health facilities damaged.

While flooding is typical across the South Asian nation, experts say the monsoon season has been increasingly unpredictable and intense in recent years, thanks to climate change. Flood management professor Tarekul Islam from Bangladesh's University of Engineering and Technology explained that global warming has led to more water vapor accumulating in the sky. 

"When precipitation begins, it also takes down accumulated vapor with it. Thus, the rain becomes more erratic and heavier," Islam told DW news. "That means, instead of getting an average amount of rain throughout the monsoon time, we get short spells of torrential rains."

Last year’s Climate Risk Index ranked Bangladesh as the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change out of 180 nations.

Read on below if you are looking for ways to help those impacted by the deadly floods.

1. Donate to Global Humanitarian Relief Agencies 


Well-known relief agencies like UNICEF are always a safe bet when looking for ways to donate to people in need. UNICEF Bangladesh is currently on the ground working around the clock to ensure the most vulnerable people have access to water, food, shelter, and medicine through the distribution of hygiene, water, and education kits. 

The organization hopes to raise $2.5 million for victims throughout Banglashes and parts of India.

Islamic Relief Worldwide, a faith-based humanitarian agency, is likewise taking donations, with funds raised helping to provide food packs to families. You can also donate through The International Federation of Red Cross or Human Appeal, both of which are working to deliver safe water and sanitation facilities, shelter, and health services.

2. Support Local Food Suppliers By Donating to World Central Kitchen


World Central Kitchen works to simultaneously support people in the aftermath of disasters by providing them with nutritious meals while also supporting local restaurants and food suppliers. The organization has been working via boat to reach families cut off by floods, delivering them hot food, drinking water, and fresh fruit. 

You can donate to World Central Kitchen here.

3. Start or Support a Fundraiser 


Platforms like GoFundMe and JustGiving are great if you’re looking to create your own fundraiser for flood relief. You can also donate to fundraisers through the platforms, all of which are verified to ensure the money raised is delivered to the correct recipients. 

4. Learn More by Educating Yourself 


Learning more about how climate change works and impacts the world's most vulnerable people is a crucial step toward addressing the many injustices of the climate crisis. When you're educated on a topic, you are much more likely to spread awareness by talking to your friends and family about the problem, as well as more likely to make changes in your own life to address the problem.

The world needs more people who care about the climate crisis and who use their voice, vote, and money to back solutions.

Global Citizen has lots of great articles that speak in-depth about how climate change is pushing people into poverty and exactly how climate change fuels extreme weather events. You can also read about how climate change is already affecting every person on the planet, from higher rent and more intense allergies to worse traffic and limited access to food. 

After reading about climate change, you can test your knowledge by taking quizzes here and here. 

5. Sign Global Citizen’s Climate Crisis Petition and Take Further Action

While money donated by individuals is vital, to truly address the climate crisis and ensure Bangladesh's flood victims are taken care of, governments, corporations, and philanthropists desperately need to step up. These players ultimately have the power to change legislation, policy, and practices. 

Global Citizen works by putting advocacy front and center and, as such, has an array of actions live on our platform that call on the world's leaders to protect people and the planet. You can sign petitions to business leaders, directly tweet decision-makers — including US President Joe Biden — and email the European Union.

You can also leave a message speaking up for farmers on the front lines of the climate crisis here.

TopicsEnvironmentHow to helpFloodsBangaldesh

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Here’s How You Can Take Action Right Now to Support Bangladesh’s Flood Victims

By Madeleine Keck