Due to heavy rainfall 10 - 18 September 2005 a vast area of Midnapore (East & West), 24 Parganas (South & North) and North Dinajpur were affected by floods. A further low pressure over south-west and west-central Bay of Bengal, off Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh has resulted in incessant heavy rains since 18 October causing severe flooding in east and west Midnapore, North & South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur, Hooghly and Burdwan. About 2,200,000 people have been seriously affected in South Bengal of whom about 1,900,000 belong to East and West Midnapore districts. According to government sources, 127,879 people have been evacuated to 1,200 relief camps set up in the state. Thousands of homes have collapsed and road communication is totally disrupted.

Many people are still living under the open sky on the embankments and on the road sides in urgent need of relief materials such as dry food, baby food, plastic sheets, water purifiers, medicines, bleaching powder, lime dust etc.

This appeal includes the flood response in West Bengal implemented by ACT member the Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) who plan to assist the most vulnerable flood affected by providing food, non-food kits, water and sanitation, temporary shelter and food for work.

Project Completion Date:

LWSI - 31 July 2006

Total Appeal Target(s): 392,092

Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 0

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 392,092

Signed by:
Jenny Borden
Interim Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office