As heavy rain again falls
in South Asia, ActionAid is today launching an emergency appeal for its work targeted at 100,000 flood victims in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Around 30 million people have been
affected by what has been described as South Asia’s worst flood in living memory.At its height, almost two thirds of Bangladesh was underwater and in India an area the size of Britain was
flooded. Pakistan’s coastal region was devastated. In Nepal, monsoon rains triggered devastating landslides cutting off entire villages.And whilst the worst of the flood waters are now
receding, South Asia is still midway through the monsoon season and further rain is predicted over the coming two weeks. There is a continuing threat from waterborne diseases such as cholera and
dysentery. Diarrhoea is already proving a serious problem.People are desperately in need of clean, safe drinking water, food and shelter. Even as water levels subside, ActionAid says that
communities will continue to need help for months to come in order to rebuild their lives.With 30 years experience in the region, ActionAid has set up a programme delivering water, food and
medical care to those most desperately in need. ActionAid is also helping to supply farmers with the tools and seeds they need to go back to the land and is drawing up plans to help poor families
rebuild their homes.ActionAid’s Emergencies Adviser in the region, Dr Unnikrishnan PV said: "Poor people, especially women and children, have struggled to be noticed in the relief
effort so far and that must be challenged."Without sustained long-term help, many will face hunger, starvation and death from disease. Children are having a particularly difficult
time. There is no school, no play, nothing to smile at. It is a long list of woes."
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
