More than 200 flood-affected families residing at Bangladeshi church

Published: 2004-08-10

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CNS) -- For rickshaw puller Mohammad Abdul Hannan, the De Mazenod Catholic Church compound is dry land and refuge. It was dark as Hannan spoke to UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Hannan tried to calm his crying son while his wife cooked. Their son was born in a makeshift shelter at the church July 28. Hannan, 28, and his then-pregnant wife were driven from their nearby home by the rising waters of Bangladesh's annual flood cycle. Flooding this year, said to be the worst in 15 years, has swamped two-thirds of the country, affected an estimated 20 million people and killed 1,700. "We have been here for about 20 days," Hannan said Aug. 7, as his wife took their son. "Different people giving us relief items -- that drove away our food problems. We are thankful to all who gave us shelter here and who are providing us food." Some 205 flood-affected families have been residing in the church compound since mid-July. In early August, the compound was covered with large tents. Old men sat engrossed in thought at the gate in the evening darkness as young children milled around.

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