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PrintFlooding in India
Flood-affected people are evacuated to safer grounds by a rescue team at Chondipur village of Madhepura district in India's eastern state of Bihar August 31, 2008. Photo: REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri
Sixteen districts in the state of Bihar are experiencing serious flooding after monsoon rains caused the Kosi River to break its banks on 18 August.
“Whole villages have been destroyed and people have been left with nothing. Huge numbers are marooned with no food or drinking water. It is vital that we get emergency assistance such as clean water and shelter to these people as soon as possible,” said Nisha Agrawal, CEO of Oxfam India.
The most critically affected districts are Supaul, Araria, Madhepura, Saharsa, Purnea and Katihar. Murliganj, a once thriving market town in Madhepura is all but washed away.
At least 70 people have died, many drowning from capsizing boats as people struggle to escape the rising waters. So far more than 300,000 people have been evacuated to safety, but many families remain stranded.
Relief camps have been set up and are already supporting 100,000 people. Keeping people healthy in the camps is major challenge, with the wet conditions making the outbreak of disease a very real threat. Oxfam and our local partner organisations have been rescuing people and responding to the crisis since the flooding began. We are using motorboats to rescue stranded men, women and children from Supaul, the worst affected district. Contingency stocks of tarpaulin shelter sheets, water purification kits, buckets and Oral Rehydration Sachets (ORS), kept in readiness in flood prone districts, have also been moved to provide support to the affected. Staffers from Oxfam and two local organisations, as well as trained volunteers, are working round the clock in Supaul.
Flood-affected people move to safer grounds through a flooded road in Madhepura town in India's eastern state of Bihar August 30, 2008. Photo: REUTERS/ Krishna Murari Kishan
Over the coming weeks, we will be supporting at least 20,000 families in Basantpur and Pratapganj, two of the worst affected blocks of Supaul. “We are scaling up our response on temporary shelter, food, water and sanitation. Women and children are particularly facing the brunt in cramped camps or are exposed to heat and the rains under the open sky. Pregnant and lactating mothers are not getting safe water and are forced to defecate in floodwaters. The need for hygiene and sanitation is imminent to prevent the spread of any water-borne epidemic,” Nisha says.
How you can help
You can support our rescue and relief work in Bihar by donating to our India Flood Appeal. Donations will go towards delivering emergency shelter, food, and hygiene items and providing clean drinking water and safe sanitation.
$20 can provide a shelter kit for a family.
$50 can provide 10 days worth of food for a family
$75 can pay for a latrine to be installed in a relief camp
$250 can pay for a water pump to provide displaced families with access to clean and safe water