Natural disasters rob us of our sense of control in the world, rendering us helpless to its chaos and leaving us to pick up the pieces that lie in its wake. But just as rain turn into floods, one drop at a time, while alone, we may be drops of water, but together, we can form an ocean. And it is at times of such tragedy and turmoil, that we re-find hope in mankind.
This year, record-breaking rainfall causing a flash flood in upstream Meghalaya and Assam areas of India, followed by torrential rainfall in the north-eastern districts of Bangladesh lead to more 70% of the Sylhet division being submerged, marooning around 40 lakh people in several upazilas. But within days, various voluntary and charitable organizations came forward to aid in the recovery and restoration of the flood-effected regions. From UNICEF, United Kingdom, European Commission, Prime Minister’s Office, and several other local organizations and individuals, everyone did whatever they could to lend a helping hand and overcome the unprecedented calamity. And the American International University – Bangladesh (AIUB) takes pride in the fact that the AIUB Social Welfare Club – Shomoy, a voluntary student organization working towards social development, took an initiative to run a fund-raising campaign to support the cause. After a week-long campaign, donations from students and staff enabled the club to distribute relief packages of flattened rice, puffed rice, molasses, dates, first-aid medication, saline, sanitary pads, candles, lighters, water, and polythene packets, to over 260 households in need, with the help of local authorities, on the 29th of June 2022, across the flood-effected areas of Moghla Bazar in Sylhet.
In such dire circumstances, every bit of contribution plays a valuable role in getting through the calamity, rising above, and persevering to rebuild a better tomorrow, and the university and its student community hopes to continue doing that and serving the greater good.
Partnerships
