Shukitan Begum is among at least 700 people taking shelter in the government building of Bangladesh's northwestern Sirajganj district, after being driven out from their homes by the current flooding.
There is nobody looking after Shukitan, a woman of 60 years old with only one eye can see. Her two sons, who died earlier, left her five minor children to look after.
Shukitan told Xinhua Monday that she wanted to get more relief goods to feed the children.
When asked how she managed to feed her grand children, Shukitan said, "I can do nothing but beg."
Shukitan said she could give one meal to the grandchildren by begging.
When asked whether she got any relief from the government, Shukitan said she has got some rice from the government, but far from enough.
The district administration sources said they didn't open shelter camp in the building. These people forcefully took shelter here as their houses were under flood water.
In another shelter camp in the town, Shajeda Khatun, a woman of 55, said their children were being affected by diarrhea and other intestinal diseases.
"We need badly medicines at this moment to treat our children," she said.
Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, the head of the district told Xinhua Monday that they have opened 355 shelter camps throughout the district.
Khalil said 850,000 people of his district were affected by the flood and more than 50 percent of the district's land is under water.
He said the administration has distributed 490 tons of rice, 1. 7 million taka (about 25,000 U.S. dollars), dry food and other materials to the victims.
Khalil said 92 medical teams are working in the flood-hit areas of the district. There is no report of outbreak of infectious disease.
The deputy commissioner said they could not overcome the difficulties facing them alone. They need the support from home and abroad to combat the disaster.
The flood death toll in Bangladesh rose to 156 Monday. The water in Sirajganj is receding.
Bangladesh is a low lying country. Flood, which is common in monsoon season, is usually caused by incessant rain and water flowing from upper stream.
Source: Xinhua
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