ACT News Update

India 01/04

Geneva, July 26, 2004--Members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International report that the flooding situation in the states of Assam and Bihar is worsening. The floods are a result of continued heavy rains that have been falling since early July.

According to Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), more areas in the two states are becoming flooded. The death toll is reported to be 129 in Bihar and 104 in Assam. In Bihar, 12.5 million people in 18 districts are affected by the floods. Major rivers continue to flow above the danger mark.

Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) reports that in Assam, roads are blocked and sections of state highway, major district roads and rural roads have been damaged by the floods. According to LWSI reports, in some districts, hundreds of villages are affected, and scores have been completely washed away in one district alone. The needs listed by LWSI assessment teams and requests from district authorities are dry food, plastic sheeting for roofing, water purifiers, medicines, water-purification tablets, clothing for adults and children and mosquito nets.

CASA responded within three days of the flooding with an emergency feeding program for 2,250 families each in Assam and Bihar. At the same time, it began a survey of the area and has requested a revision of its original appeal (ACT appeal ASIN-43) to assist an additional 10,000 families beyond the 15,000 proposed. CASA will assist the most vulnerable in six severely affected areas in Assam and Bihar by providing dry rations, plastic sheets, clothing, blankets and sanitary articles. It also plans to construct four flood shelters in Assam, which suffers from severe flooding every year.

LWSI has already sent to the affected areas 25,000 kg of pressed rice, 5,000 kg of molasses, 5,000 plastic sheets and water-purification tablets, which could be purchased immediately. It plans to send more supplies shortly. Its response is presented in ACT appeal ASIN-43 Revision 1.

LWSI reports that residents in some of the affected areas are benefiting from past LWSI work. People in some areas have taken shelter on embankments, known as “mounds,” that were built by the community as part of an LWSI food-for-work program. People are also able to access drinking water from tube wells sunk on these embankments.

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