Poison Water - Bangladesh

March 1998
Thanks to foreign aid, Bangladeshi water supplies have been clean and clear for years. Now it emerges, 50 million are at risk of water-borne arsenic poisoning.

Hand pumps have been promoted by aid agencies and the government for the past 20 years. The world had helped Bangladesh solve its problem of diseased water, in a country where millions used to die from water-borne diseases. But now evidence suggests it contains arsenic, which is killing Bangladeshis. In Kutubpur, villager Garribukler has 35 times the safe level of arsenic. His hair and skin samples are analysed with chilling results. Doctor Roy says he's likely to get cancer due to the arsenic in his skin. Other villagers show the stone-like beads covering their bodies, a sign of poisoning. Bangladeshis face a nightmarish dilemma, partly of the international aid agencies' making: to drink polluted water or risk a slow, painful death by arsenic poisoning. Deepak Bajracharya of UNICEF says 'It's psychological trauma. Drinking water is a basic need. We don't want this symbol of life turned into death'

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

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News & Politics

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• contamination
• poison
• water
• aid
• arsenic
• Kutabpur
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[neilutubename]

Well then, how about we privatize their water and sell it back to them. I promise you.. it will happen.

[selgurlcute]

nobody can't do nothink becouse bangladesh goverment are besy to put money on there own pocket they doun't care about peppole

[banglachoti12]

nice video

bdchotisex.blogspot.com

Nacket-bd.blogspot.com

[garyshouse305]

Water Crisis - A Solution.wmv,,this hand pump can produce a lot of clean water

[xrnts]

it is terrible that people from other countries give money so that Bangladesh can have clean water then the best efforts of good people are blamed for causing harm.

the uploader says this is, " partly of the international aid agencies' making."

the IAA did their best to help,what did the Bangloa govnerment do?

maybe the IAA should not help then they will do nothing wrong.

how is the situation in this village now?

i hope the IAA have kept away.

best not to help when it causes harm.

[reddnec]

If arrowhead can remove it so could they?

[kisslug]

this really shame, the first world uno,and related ngos are enjoying in bangladesh,sleeping there.imf,world bank giving money but they dont know whats happening with this money. these people are sleeping there. lake of our education , i dont beleave. and our govt. busy with their own pocket. its really shame.

[xxxdieselyyy]

Basic civic sense in the population and also complete apathy in the authorities and also general public is something which unites India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

[skillcentre]

Okay, I suppose I was being rude, sry for that. yeah bangladesh goverment are putting money in their pockets. But they can still think big, they can act dynamic, which is missing in BD. BD goverments are just donors of IMF and World Bank, so far these aids were useless, and the only thing achieved to impress them was making 3 useless women ministers. I m not sexist, but this is what they do to and we say ' chamchami' of the whites. Think of policies Zia had, did we ever had anyone like him?

[selgurlcute]

i didnt say tht its not i noe it is im just saying on the behalf of my country and im saying nobody can stop this only if ppl who r doing this changes then okaii w.e. but im just trying to say bangladesh government is just putting money in there own pocket ok so like chill ur mind

[skillcentre]

this has nothing to do Bangladesh government putting money in their pockets, same thing happens in INDIA, Pakistan , Afganistan, Nepal, Africa and so on ok!!

[anonymous7egend]

hay yaaaa