INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Ever since she was a little girl, Amina Ahmed has been afraid of the water
Growing up in Sylhet, north-east of Bangladesh, the heavy rainfall that typically occurs during monsoon season would make her anxious.But
towns, killing at least 68 people and leaving thousands displaced
According to the UN, an estimated 7.2 million people across seven districts have been affected.Now 24, Ahmed, from Mirabazar, is a volunteer
for the Bangladesh Red Crescent, where she is part of a team leading rescue and relief operations during the current crisis.When the recent
They carried small children for those struggling to stay afloat and provided regular reassurance to terrified families, as well as cooked
meals, clean drinking water and medicine.Ahmed recognises that women in Sylhet are more likely to be affected by the climate emergency than
men, which is a key motivation for her work
has overcome her fear of water to help flood-affected people
Photograph: Suvra Kanti Das/The GuardianOne such problem is a lack of adequate toilet facilities in shelters for menstruating women and
She describes the cramped conditions of the shelters, with multiple families living under the same roof and only one shared bathroom
The provision of sanitary towels in emergency packages is often overlooked, so Ahmed is making sure they are included.Since many of the
makeshift shelters are accessible only by boat, Ahmed has been forced to confront her fear of water
She travelled for hours in a rickety boat to deliver emergency aid to more than 200 families
fighter at YouthNet, the largest youth-led network for climate advocacy in Bangladesh, says women and girls are the most affected by the
flooding because of their limited access to resources
says.Humayara Jeba, right, tries to reassure Rita Akhter, who was rescued from floodwater
Photograph: Suvra Kanti Das/The GuardianFor the past year and a half, Jeba, from Shahi Eidgah, has been involved in crisis response planning
She was pivotal in making sure those most at risk made it to safety, including children, elderly people and pregnant women.One of these was
Rita Akhter, 19, who is eight months pregnant with her first child
Akhter was resting when the water levels outside her tin hut started to drastically rise
She was awoken by shouts from neighbours and climbed out of bed to find herself waist deep in water
All the emergency shelters nearby were full, so Jeba offered shelter in her own home
Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesAn estimated 60,000 women are pregnant in the affected region, with more than 6,500 births expected
According to Sylhet health department, 24 healthcare facilities have sustained extensive damage, including MAG Osmani Medical College
Sylhet, 414 are under water
has been busy planning her next climate protest
Frustrated by the lack of global response, Ibshar wants to ensure that the plight of her people is heard
slogans in Bangla and English
This article first appeared/also appeared in theguardian.com
