Vatican City, 7 August 2007 – National Caritas agencies in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan continue to work non-stop to help some of the
more than 20 million people left homeless by the devastating monsoon floods that hit South Asia over the last month. The rains still fall and new areas continue to be inundated."More than half
of Bangladesh is underwater, and the predictions are for more rain. We are bracing ourselves and moving quickly to avert further tragedy," said Akhila D'Rozario, Director of Disaster Management and
Development at Caritas Bangladesh."Some 500,000 people remain completely cut off, with no access to food or clean water," Mr D'Rozario said, adding that there is a lack of boats to get to many
areas.Some 7.5 million people have fled their homes in Bangladesh amidst the worst monsoon flooding in many decades, while in India 13.7 million people have abandoned their homes in search of
refuge. Though many people are sheltering in schools and other public buildings, many others have amassed in makeshift camps where disease looms, or they are simply piecing together shelters sometimes
of little more than sticks on higher patches of ground. Hundreds of thousands more in Nepal also had to flee their homes.The rains, which were heavy over the weekend in India's northeastern
Bihar and Assam states, are predicted to move southwards over Bangladesh and India's West Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states in the coming days.Father Varghese Mattamana, executive
director of Caritas India, said the local Caritas offices were keeping an eye on rising water levels, as rivers that hadn't already burst their banks remained under strain."In the past few
days we've seen an improvement in most parts of India that were affected, but the monsoon season isn't due to end until September," he said, "so we have to be vigilant."More than 1200 people
have been killed in India, while in Bangladesh more than 150 people have died. Nearly 100 were reported killed in Nepal.The Caritas Confederation through Caritas Bangladesh is
currently providing emergency relief to thousands of families, including food, clean water, clothing, bedding, hygiene items and cooking sets. The organisation is also building shelters with latrines
for 2500 of the neediest families. In addition to the original appeal for $US 800,000, Caritas Bangladesh is now seeking a further $US 1.5 million in order to provide emergency food to another 10,000
families, as the scope of the disaster widens.Caritas India, working closely with US-based partner Catholic Relief Services, in the initial stages is aiding 15,000 families,
providing food, water, tarpaulins, and medical supplies. Caritas India immediately released nearly $US 100,000 to act quickly, making funds available to partner agencies in Bihar, one of the worst-hit
regions in India. Caritas India has planned to funnel another $US 185,000 worth of aid to areas in Bihar. The Dutch Caritas Cordaid, Caritas Germany and Caritas Italy have all made commitments to help
in the relief effort, contributing to a Confederation-wide appeal of $US 700,000Caritas India is also responding to flood-affected people in Andhra, Orissa, Assam, Maharastra, Gujarat,
Karnataka and Kerala States. Caritas is providing immediate relief to over 23,000 families. Caritas is also using cash-for-work programmes to involve communities in building shelters and water
decontamination projects.Nepal The devastation covers a large swath of the country, making relief efforts especially difficult. From east to west, the most damage is felt
in the lowland (Terai) belt that borders India. Flood waters have destroyed houses, crops and food stocks, and left many farm animals dead. Local partners have distributed immediate emergency relief
to several thousand families in four districts, and staff and partners are carrying out assessments in and around the most vulnerable areas of Janakpur. "The biggest problem is access. The
roads have been washed out, the bridges have been washed away. We might be able to do some of our assessments by motor bike, but we imagine we'll mostly be walking. Instead of going really high tech
on this assessment, we've got to go low tech. Bicycles, pedestrians and animals are best able to move around to flood-affected areas, which is what we need to reach people who are especially
vulnerable in remote villages," said Cassie Dummett, an emergency technical advisor with Catholic Relief Services who is currently in Nepal.Pakistan Caritas Pakistan has
launched an appeal for over $US 1 million to deal with the worst flooding and cyclone damage in decades. US partner CRS is mounting a response worth over $US 2 million. Both are targeting the remote
and badly damaged Sindh and Balochistan provinces, with the most important priorities to provide clean water and to rehabilitate water sources, as well as building shelters. Caritas will provide
medical supplies and expertise to combat outbreaks of water-born illnesses as well. Nearly 20,000 families will benefit.Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief,
development, and social service organisations present in over 200 countries and territories. Nancy McNally, media officer Tel: +39 06 69879752 Mobile: +39 334 2344 136 mcnally@caritas.va www.caritas.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
