Heavy rainfall from July 5, 2004 in Bangladesh caused flooding in the four upazilla (sub districts) of Gaibandha district and vast areas of land were inundated and damaged standing crops and vegetables. This may be an example of climate change.

The people of the affected areas took refuge in the nearby flood shelters, schools, roads, dyke and other high places. Entire homesteads were destroyed resulting in losses of homestead vegetable gardens, growing paddy fields, fish farms, sources of safe drinking water, the sanitation system, and access roads. Most of the markets of the affected areas were under floodwater and as a result it was really difficult to purchase essentials goods from the areas. The water level was higher than that of flood 1998. About 4,287 families took refugee in makeshift shelters with minimum water and sanitation facilities. It was reported that there was acute shortage of food.

An emergency flood relief programme was implemented by ITDG(now renamed Practical Action) – Bangladesh, River Erosion Project (REP), through partnership with 5 local NGOs, GUK, SKS, AKOTA, PBKS, SSUS and district administration. They aimed to mitigate the suffering of the flood affected people, to provide emergency survival package to 635 families, to reduce diarrhea affected patients, to supply baby foods, to keep the environment hygienic in the shelters.