Relief in flood-affected state of Bihar
01/09/2008
In India's eastern state of Bihar, hundreds of thousands of people have been marooned by floods. According to authorities, three million people have been displaced from their homes and at least 90 killed by floods in Bihar, after the Kosi river burst a dam in Nepal, swamping hundreds of villages in Bihar and destroying 250,000 acres of farmlands.
Since the monsoon began in South Asia in June, more than 1,000 people have died in floods, with most of the casualties recorded in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
To help affected children and their families, SOS Children has set up a small emergency relief programme in the province and is using the SOS Children's Village in Begusarai as a base. SOS Children has offered its facilities and services to the state authorities and will work in close cooperation with the government authorities to:
Take children who have lost their parents into long-term care at our newly established Village at Begusarai.
Care for children who have been separated from their families until they can be reunited.
Distribute relief kits comprising of dry food, baby food, milk powder and clothes.
SOS Children has also started a Family and Child Relief Centre in Purnia from where basic necessities are being provided to 1,600 affected families (including 3,000 children). Food packages including baby food, drinking water and basic medical equipment are being provided to the people rescued from the affected areas.
In co-operation with the local authorities SOS Children is also reaching out to other affected areas with food packets and drinking water.
Relevant Countries: India.