Kushbu (on right), 9, walks with her brother through floodwaters in the northern India state of Bihar.
Photo ©2008 World Vision staff

In the last three days alone, we have provided immediate food relief to some 10,000 people in Madhepura district, one of the worst affected areas. World Vision also has provided cooked food, dry rations, family kits, and shelter material, and will be expanding its response to meet the growing needs.

Urgent needs

"Looking at the number of the people in the camps and needs that would arise, we have added temporary shelter material, hygiene kits, and water containers to the survival kits," said Franklin Joseph, World Vision's director of humanitarian emergency affairs in India.

Even as the floodwaters are starting to recede, World Vision staff report that medical care, clean drinking water, and protection for children remain urgent needs. We are especially concerned about the health threats faced by children in relief camps, including skin diseases.

"We are assessing the needs as quickly as possible so that we can put in place additional programs to respond to the health needs of the people in the camps," said Joseph.

Affected area growing

Meanwhile, numerous families continue to look for loved ones separated from them in the flooding. One family interviewed by World Vision aid workers had lost two boys in the flooding. Pappu, 14, and Deepak, 10, have been missing for a week now, and their parents have started to lose hope. Neighbors suspect that the raging waters washed both of them away.

The flooding crisis is affecting neighboring countries as well. In Nepal, World Vision is assisting survivors in 20 temporary relief shelters, constructing makeshift bathrooms, distributing food and blankets, and providing cooked meals. In Bangladesh, the agency has prepared seven-day relief kits and put its rapid response team on standby.

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