Reuters AlertNet Lite - Mosquitoes, snakes and fear: homeless in Uttar Pradhesh

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Mosquitoes, snakes and fear: homeless in Uttar Pradhesh

16 Aug 2007 10:50:00 GMT
Source: World Vision - International
Reena Samuel/Katie Chalk

Website: Website: http://www.wvasiapacific.org

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Pooja in front of the cart that has kept her and her family safe from the floods
Reena Samuel/World Vision International

Background

• S. Asia monsoon

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Pooja, nine, has been living on a cart along with her family since floods struck her village nearly two weeks ago. Each year, says her mother, their village floods by a few feet; it is expected. But this year is different, a monsoon that Pooja and thousands like her will never forget.

"I was feeding the animals when water started to enter the house. My father had gone to cut grass. And my mother was in the house cooking. My brother and sisters were playing on the nearby road."

"By night the water had reached my chest level. That's when my father took me and my brother and sisters to the road, which was not under water. We have been living in this cart since then."

"Mosquitoes bite in the night. There are snakes in this area. I am scared of them. My sister has a fever and headache. My father has a cold and fever. I was not well for a while too. But now I am ok."

"When I saw so much water I was thinking, whatever we have, it will go with the water. I saw the roof fall off houses. People said it was the first time they'd ever seen such a thing. If we hadn't got onto the road we would have gone with the water."

"Now the water has gone from our house but it's all slushy and wet. All my clothes have got wet. And I don't really know what else has happened, as I have not gone home yet. I have two shirts and one skirt only. I don't like these clothes because they are dirty and torn."

"Water has entered the school building also. I have not gone to school since that happened. All my notebooks and copies have got washed away. My doll too - I lost it with the water. I feel like playing with that doll. I feel sad about that."

"I don't like to live here. It is only because we have to that we are living here. It is not good living outside. I don't like to eat in this cart. I would rather eat in my house. But I am scared of the water."

* * *

Health Department officials in the State of Uttar Pradhesh said around 10,000 cases of diarrohea, 700 cases of gastroenteritis, 1800 cases of measles, 500 cases of jaundice and 500 cases of malaria had been reported in various districts.

Since water began to recede in flood affected areas has started receding, large tracts of agricultural land has been left water-logged.

"This area has virtually converted into a mosquito breeding ground," one officer said.

In Uttar Pradhesh, World Vision's response is focussing on families, with immediate relief plus seven-day packs distributed to help children like Pooja who have lost everything. In Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district World Vision has so far completed relief distribution to around 2000 families.

"Because of fear of epidemic, World Vision is working on giving mosquito nets to families in Barabanki", said P.K Logun, World Vision India emergency relief officer.

Malnutrition is another side-effect of the floods, affecting children in particular. With food and crops washed away, families need to buy rapidly dwindling supplies.

"You can already see malnourishment everywhere, therefore, World Vision will provide a nutrition supplement (locally called suta) to children", said World Vision relief response leader for Darbhanga, Bikash Prada.

* * *

Reena Samuel, Communications Coordinator for World Vision India, was in Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh last week and is available for interviews at +91 99205 33224

For further information on World Vision's response to the floods in India, contact:

Reena Samuel reena_samuel@wvi.org Katie Chalk katie_chalk@wvi.org Jayanth Vincent jayanth_vincent@wvi.org

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Thu Aug 16 11:14:11 2007