World Report: September 25, 1998 Vol.4 No.3
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
Water, Water Everywhere
What if two-thirds of your entire country were under water? The people of Bangladesh, a poor South Asian country the size of Wisconsin, have been facing this terrible reality for two months. Major floods have killed more than 900 people and left more than 25 million homeless or stranded. Millions of tons of rice in flooded fields have been ruined.
Bangladesh has frequent floods, but this year's are the worst in its history. The big annual rainstorms, called monsoons, are heavier than usual. Some people also blame a 15-mile wall built by the government to hold back the waters. Though it keeps some areas dry, say experts, it makes flooding worse in other areas.
Finally, last week, the rain eased up and floodwaters began to drain away. United Nations workers struggled to bring clean drinking water, medicine and food to people whose whole world was underwater.
