Surviving the South Asian floods
07/08/2007
Weeks of torrential rain in South Asia and the ensuing floods have left over 20 million people displaced in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, with the death toll currently estimated at over 300. Although aid agencies have been distributing emergency supplies, the conditions have made it difficult to get food and medical supplies to the affected communities, many of which have been cut off by the water.
Floods in these areas are a regular phenomenon at this time of the year, however the continued rainfall has been far heavier than usual, creating these severe weather conditions. SOS Children has been offering emergency support on a local level in the areas in which it works.
In India, the floods have been playing havoc in the eastern parts of the country and relief operations, in the form of evacuation and handing over food packets to the affected people, have been undertaken by the government, with support from other aid agencies. There are five SOS Children’s Villages in the most badly affected Indian states - three in Assam, one in Bihar and one in Uttar Pradesh. In each of the affected counties, water levels in dams and rivers have all been above the danger mark for the last week or so. Should the banks of the rivers give way due to the pressure, the situation could become much worse.
Despite the disastrous weather, the floods have had only minimal impact on SOS Children’s work. In Bangladesh, the June downpours saw the rainwater rushing inside the SOS Children’s Village Chittagong. Fortunately, the water had receded within 48 hours, but all the children, mothers and co-workers from the village had to spend two days cramped into the first floor of a small building nearby. Much of the furniture was ruined, but thankfully there was no loss of life or any major health issues as a result.
Most of the devastation in Nepal was focussed on the plains of the southeast and west, although flood waters are now receding. Assuming the situation remains the same or improves, SOS Children’s projects in the area should remain safe.
Relevant Countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal.