12-year-old Firoza* was at home with her sisters and nieces when she heard thunder and the sound of water rushing down the hill above her. Firoza* is one of the survivors from her village who has lost almost everything. She has lost her home, family members, and even the school where she used to study, read books, and tell stories with her friends. Firoza*, who used to sit on the grass in spring and summer and watch the view of her village, now feels sad as her village is no longer green, but instead molded under mud and rubble after the flood washed away everything.

She said: "I wanted to climb the hill, but I heard the flood. People shouted to me to come down because a flash flood was coming from the top [of the hill]. If I had not gone inside the house, the flood would have taken me away. My sister was just a few steps away from me. I shouted many times, but she did not hear me, and the flood took her away with the two children." 

Firoza's 4-year-old niece was one of those children. She was swept away and did not survive. Firoza's sister was also seriously injured and was airlifted to hospital. Firoza said:

"Only about 20 women survived - the flood took the others away. We found my injured niece one or two minutes away from here. A boy rescued her. If that boy had not rescued her, she would have died. His lower back, hands, and feet are injured." 

"Now, there is no life left for us here. The government only provides us with bread and biscuits, nothing else. We don't have water - the flood washed away our water storage. We had two gallons of water that is finished now.

"In the past, there were floods, but they were not this severe. It was so severe this time that people could only try to save themselves, and everything was washed away.

"For the past two or three years, there has been a lack of water and poor harvests. Everything became expensive, leading to hunger - we could not afford food. My father is jobless and old. 

"Before, the village was green and beautiful like heaven. I used to like sitting on the green grass. Now everything is ruined, and when you see it, you feel crazy. You want to put your head in your hands and shout and cry."