THE floods that have devastated four northern districts have worsened further. Over one lakh have been rendered homeless by the floods in Rangpur district, over 10 lakh are reported marooned in Naogaon district, and over 70,000 acres of crops are now under water.

The situation in the north is not of the scale of last year's nation-wide flooding, but by any definition of the term certainly constitutes a crisis that has made the lives of hundreds of thousands miserable, and thus merits urgent attention from the government.

However, so far we have seen regrettably little attention paid to this crisis by the government. Bangladesh is no stranger to flooding, and typically we see ministers rushing to the flood afflicted areas and relief being distributed promptly.

This is not to say that nothing has been done to help out the flood victims. There have been rescue missions conducted and shelter made available for thousands of the homeless.

However, much more needs to be done, and the sooner due attention is paid to the floods, the less will have to be spent in the long run to alleviate the suffering. The more we wait, the higher the costs rise. This is the rule with disasters, and along with a common sense of compassion and duty, should impel the government to act decisively sooner rather than later.

Infrastructure has been badly damaged and needs tending. Embankments need to be shored up and communication links to the affected districts need to be secured. In addition, to guard against illnesses caused by contaminated water, potable water needs to be provided to the afflicted.

The government is currently in the midst of a massive VGF drive. Those afflicted by the floods should be brought under this programme immediately. This would go a long way to helping alleviate some of their misery.

The government knows what needs to be done. The fact that the floods this year are localised in the north is no reason to push the issue to the back-burner. Indeed, the fact that the floods have been restricted to the north makes them easier to counter, and is all the more reason that the government should see to it that the sufferings of the afflicted are addressed.