Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 850,709

The States of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are experiencing the first phase of floods due to continuous rains since the last week of June. The week-long torrential rains across Gujarat have flooded many cities and villages in 18 districts of southern Gujarat and Saurashtra. Many dams, rivers and creeks are overflowing and the continuous rains have necessitated the evacuation of nearly 500,000 people to safer places (makeshift camps, schools and religious places) and caused large scale damage to infrastructure as well as personal and public property. The death toll in Gujarat has now reached 142. Road, rail and telecommunication have been disrupted severely, hampering relief intervention.

Madhya Pradesh has also been seriously hit with the worst affected areas being Sagar, Chattarpur, Damoh, Sahra, Riva and Katni where 1 million people are severely affected. The death toll currently stands at 34 and 49,000 people have been evacuated to relief camps.

ACT members, Church Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and the Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) are already taking action to assist the most vulnerable of the people affected. CASA has mobilised relief teams both in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, while LWSI is operating in Gujarat. Planned activities include provision of cooked food, drinking water, dry rations, plastic sheets (for temporary shelter) and clothing, blankets, utensils, candles and matches, hygiene kits.

Project Completion Date:

CASA - 31 August 2005

LWSI - 30 September 2005

Jessie Kgoroeadira
Acting Director, ACT C.O.