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Hundreds of Thousands Stranded in India Floods

The monsoon season is hitting India hard. In the Indian state Orisaa, DanChurchAid supports the relief work through the local partner LWSI with DKK 400000.

 

Contact: Nina Ellinger, DanChurchAid in India, 91 11 2614 8279, 2614 8280, nie.india@dca.dk

 

NEW DELHI, India, July 13 /Standard Newswire/ -- In Orissa, breaches in embankments of rivers resulted in water overflowing and rushing into agricultural fields destroying standing crops and covering the cultivable land with sand. Mud houses have been damaged or completely washed away. Families have moved to higher places and taken refuge in school buildings or individuals’ residences. As people could not carry much with them, they are in immediate need of food, medicines, clothing and shelter. Baby food and fodder are also necessary.

 

While Balasore is the worst hit, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts have also been severely affected by the devastating floods. More than 5.5 million people from 1,000 villages are affected in Balasore and tens of thousands of cattle have died. Altogether 9 million people are reported to be affected in Orissa.

 

The UNDP team leader, on behalf of the Orissa Government, has requested LWSI to immediately mobilize roofing materials for temporary shelter and family relief kits.

 

Dry food distribution has been started and wherever feasible free kitchens are being run.

 

The need of the hour seems to be:

 

  • Shelter materials for 100,000 families

 

  • Medical teams to cover larges areas in the shortest possible time

 

  • Specialized intervention in the field of water and sanitation

 

LWSI plan

 

LWSI joined the Inter Agency Group joint assessment in West Bengal and Orissa and is part of the regular NGO coordination meetings.

 

In both states, the respective state governments have put its departments on high alert. Though steps have been taken by government authorities to provide immediate relief, millions are still not reached.

 

Barring Jajpur and Keojhar districts in Orissa, the other flood affected districts are not within LWSI’s present operational areas. In the case of West Bengal, LWSI concluded its tubewell sinking programme in the severely affected West Midnapore district in December 2006. LWSI maintains good relation with government authorities at different levels and is presently collecting updates on the situation.

 

Based on the report from the assessment teams and field project staff, LWSI is planning to distribute temporary roofing materials and family relief kits of clothing to 5,000 affected families in each of the states of West Bengal and Orissa. It also plans to distribute 500,000 water purification (Halogen) tablets.

 

Further assistance will be determined in due course subject to the situation and immediate unmet needs of the flood affected people.

 


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