Salvation Army relief teams provide help after millions are affected by floods in South Asia
ABNORMALLY heavy rainfall during this year’s annual monsoon season has left millions of people in urgent need of assistance across South Asia. Salvation Army relief teams are already responding in Bangladesh and India, providing practical assistance and support.
Salvation Army relief teams in West Bengal, India, are distributing urgently-needed supplies. Food packages containing 20 kg of rice, 5 kg pulses, 10 kg wheat flour and 2 litres of cooking oil are being distributed to 1,500 people along with a parcel of essential non-food items such as matches, candles, a cooking stove, clothing, plastic sheets, floor mats and ropes.
Colonel Kashinath Lahase, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army's India Northern Territory, reports: ‘We have started responding in West Bengal but other areas need help too. Assessment teams are on their way to Bihar and Orissa.'
In Bangladesh, The Salvation Army is providing aid to 2,000 families (10,000 people) in the Sirajganj District. The impact of flooding on local prices is making the challenge particularly difficult. As Lieut-Colonel Ethne Flintoff, Officer Commanding of The Salvation Army in Bangladesh, explains: 'Food prices have gone up drastically in Bangladesh this year and because of the flooding they are now rising even more – especially the price of rice, oil and lentils.'
Flood waters are now receding in north Bangladesh but water levels continue to rise in central and western regions. Latest reports from the United Nations coordination agency reveal the huge scale of the crisis across the region. 'Flooding has affected nearly 40 million people so far this season, which has been the worst in many years,' says one report. 'So far, flooding in eight states across India has caused nearly 1,300 deaths and disrupted the lives of over 31 million people. Some 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres) of crops have been damaged and over 500,000 homes damaged or destroyed. 7.6 million Bangladeshis have also been affected and 128 have died as water continues to rise in the country's north-east and central regions. Some 4.2 million flood victims are in areas near the capital, Dhaka, where more than 200,000 are living in temporary shelters.’
Major Cedric Hills (The Salvation Army's International Emergency Services Coordinator) says: 'We are extremely grateful for the donor contributions received and around US$70,000 has been provided to the region to date.' But he adds: ‘We have grown accustomed to the devastation caused every year when the monsoon rains impact this region, but this situation is even worse than normal. The scale of need is much greater than anticipated and relief teams are asking for more food, rehydration tablets, safe drinking water and shelter materials.'