India: Floods - ACT: 09-Oct-02

Action by Churches Together (ACT) Update - India - Floods 2/2002 Assam & Bihar Floods ASIN-23 Appeal Geneva, 9 October 2002

ASSAM In response to the floods at end of July 02, ACT member the Lutheran World Service - India (LWS-I) sent a rapid assessment team to the flood affected areas in Dhubri district. The ACT/LWS - I Rapid Relief team were sent with essential materials to the areas by 2nd August and distribution of relief materials such as dry foods started immediately, in consultation with local leaders and government officials. Detail of relief materials distributed by LWS India up to 26 September are as follows : Items Unit Quantity Dispatched Quantity Utilised Quantity Balance in hand FOOD MATERIALS : Flattened Rice Kgs. 25,000 25,000 Nil Jaggery Kgs. 2,500 2,500 Nil Suji Kgs. 1,500 1,500 Nil Sugar Kgs. 370 370 Nil Milk Powder Kgs. 3,000 3,000 Nil BP-5 Compact Food Carton 750 750 Nil NON-FOOD ITEMS : Sarees Pcs. 5,000 5,000 Nil Dhotis Pcs. 5,000 5,000 Nil Boy;'s Garments Sets 5,000 5,000 Nil Girl's Garments Sets 5,000 5,000 Nil Cotton Bed Sheets Pcs. 5,000 5,000 Nil Woollen Blankets Pcs. 5,000 5,000 Nil Polythene Sheets Pcs. 5,000 5,000 Nil Dry Food distribution : 25,000 kgs pressed rice and 2,500 kgs jaggary were distributed to 5,000 families in 47 villages of 5 blocks affected by floods. Distribution of dry foods was completed by 15 September 02. Supplementary feeding programme : Supplementary nutritional feeding programme was initiated from 8 August 2002 through 11 feeding centres in six blocks covering 4,718 beneficiaries daily. On completion of the feeding programme all the centres were closed down. Non-Food Items : 5,000 families were provided with a kit consisting of one each of the following: dhoti, saree, boys and girls garment, woollen blanket and a cotton bed sheet. 5,000 plastic sheets for temporary roofing were given to equal number of families in 48 villages in 5 Blocks. Water & Sanitation : 2,000 kgs. bleaching powder and 200,000 halogen tablets were distributed to 5,000 families in 47 villages. Medicines and ORS packets were distributed where appropriate. The programme ended 15 September 02. Places for 50 shallow tube wells have been identified and installation will start soon. WATER & SANITATION : Unit Quantity dispatched Quantity utilised Quantity in hand Bleaching Powder Kgs 2,000 2,000 Nil Halogen Tablets Tablets 200,000 200,000 Nil MEDICINES : ORS Pkts. 1,000 1,000 Nil Metronidazole tabs (400 gm) Tablets 2,000 2,000 Nil Metronidazole susp-60 ml Phials 300 300 Nil Paracetamol Syrup - 60 ml Phials 200 200 Nil Food For Work : ACT/LWS India field personnel have prepared 19 schemes relating to improvement of village link roads damaged by floods. Ten of the nineteen projects have been selected on a priority basis and will generate about 17,000 work day opportunities in the areas. About 51,000 kg rice and 5,100 kg pulses (@ 3 kg rice & 300 gms pulses each work day) are needed to complete these ten projects. BIHAR Re-assessment of needs : LWS-I reviewed the present situation and the needs of the people affected by floods in Madhubani district, visiting nine villages in three Blocks of Jhanjharpur and Bennipotti Sub-divisions in Madhubani district. Discussion with local government officials revealed that restoration of village roads, employment generation programmes, medicines and clothing are still required in the areas. On the basis of reassessment of the situation and needs in the area, non-food relief materials, as shown below, were sent to Bihar between 13 and 20 September 02. Non-food items Unit Quantity Dispatched Sarees Pcs. 4,398 Dhotis Pcs. 2,092 Lungis Pcs. 2,686 Boy's Garments Sets 1,965 Girl's Garments Sets 1,060 Cotton Bed Sheets Pcs. 5,000 Polythene Sheets Pcs. 10 Woollen Blankets Pcs. 5,000 The relief materials were distributed to the most needy people in the most affected areas. Ten polythene sheets were provided for storage of relief materials. Of the 34 Food for Work schemes for improving village link roads, 25 have been selected on a priority basis which are expected to create 13,000 work-day opportunities in the area. To complete these 25 schemes about 39,000 kgs rice and 3,900 kgs pulses (@ 3 kg rice and 300 gms pulses for each work day) will be required. ACT/LWS India completed procurement to the value of funds received for the crisis phase. Since considerable damage occurred to agricultural land, village roads and drinking water tube wells, ACT/LWS India identified urgent needs for installation of shallow tube wells, agriculture land reclamation, restoration of village link roads and de-silting of water sources on a priority basis under Food for Work Schemes. To date funding for the ASIN23 Appeal has reached only 26%. The ACT CO urges donors to consider further funding to enable LWS-I to continue with the urgently needed Food for Work projects already identified. Thank you for your attention. For further information please contact: ACT Director, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Mieke Weeda (phone ++ 41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 285 2916) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 P.O. 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