GENEVA, September 1, 2008--ACT International has launched a US $1.7 million appeal to provide emergency assistance to tens of thousands of people displaced by the catastrophic flooding in the Indian province of Bihar.

"It is an absolute disaster... The affected area is immense," reported Mr. Sushant Agrawal, moderator of ACT International and director of ACT member, Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA).

The flooding was caused by a week of incessant rain. On August 18, the Kosi river, which enters India in north Bihar, changed its course and shifted over 120km eastwards, breaching more than 300km of embankments.

Flood waters inundated a large area, swamping hundreds of villages that were considered relatively "flood safe" and had not experienced such floods for decades. More than 2.5 million people have been made homeless and more rains are potentially on the way.

"Five children died recently in a hamlet east of Bhadshah chowk. Hundreds of people are marooned and have survived with nothing for last seven days," said Muhammad Quayyum, a villager from the district of Supaul in Bihar.

CASA has mobilised ready-to-eat food packages for 5,000 families in the affected area and plans to complete this initial distribution by the end of the week. Additional assistance for 10,000 families will include the distribution of dry rations, blankets, clothing, water containers and plastic sheeting.

Staff in the affected areas are also establishing a remote base camp to provide infrastructure and logistical support for the duration of this large-scale response.

ACT members, Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and United Evangelical Lutheran Church (UELCI), are also present in the affected areas and are planning a response.

"Some are saying that it is going to be a long winter, but it really is going to be a long couple of years. Poor people are going to be without permanent shelter for a very long time," said Mr. Nirmal Singh, the head of emergencies for CASA.

In response to the critical shelter needs, CASA will be establishing 625 temporary transit shelters to house up to 2,500 affected families in the months to come.

Mr. Agrawal reported that a large proportion of those living in the flood areas come from Dalit and other lower caste communities. He said that the top priority will be to ensure that those most vulnerable also receive the necessary rehabilitation assistance once the initial crisis phase is over.

"We will stand in favor of those who are the poorest of the poor and from the lower castes," said Mr. Agrawal.

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Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sidney Traynham ACT Communications +41 22 791 6711 (office) +41 79 681 1868 (mobile) sjt@act-intl.org