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FROM THE FIELD

EFICOR's Response to Bihar Flood
17 Sep 2008 08:24:00 GMT
 Source: Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR) - India
Sheila George

Website: Website: http://eficor.org

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Food being provided to flood affected victims of the Bihar flood
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Food being provided to flood affected victims of the Bihar flood
EFICOR

Background

•  S. Asia monsoon

•  South East Asia Monsoon

•  Floods

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Flood water has not been receding much hence thousands of people are still taking shelter at various relief camps organized by the government and various NGOs. Rescue & evacuation efforts are being done by the Army. More people, rescued by the Army are joining the relief camps.

The worst affected block of Madhepura district is Murilganj and Kumarkhand, 70% of these blocks are still under water. Bridges, culverts and roads have been fully damaged with no proper means of transportation. All sections of people are affected both rich and poor in Madhepura town; many of the people are not able to occupy their homes which are still under water.

"It is a pitiful situation" says Jitu Kumar, Manager Programmes, EFICOR "to see that many people have lost their normal mental state having lost everything, family members, livelihood and belongings".

The government has organised mega camps by putting tents but many have no provision for food. The relief camps in fact seem to be inactive due to over population. People occupy these camps expecting relief from the government, unfortunately no proper relief has been provided and people are seen standing and waiting for a long time. Many NGOs providing relief are tired and overwhelmed by the situation that they are winding up.

At the Inter Agencies Group meetings called by Bihar state co-coordinator for disaster, UNICEF doctors had cautioned about the kinds of diseases and symptoms based on the survey conducted in various affected regions. UNICIEF has provided list of telephone number of doctors responsible for the support of health services.

New people are coming to EFICOR camps each day and their names are being registered. The challenge faced by most of the relief camps is that people are moving from one camp to another, some moving to the Government run camps with the hope of receiving flood compensation offered by the Bihar government. While others were going back to their homes hence the community kitchen at Bantekthi has been closed down after 14th September.

EFICOR's camp at Navtol Middle School, Parwa, Muraligunj block of Madhepura district which is the closest point to the rescue site has a large influx of people hence who ever comes is not denied food.

Jitu Kumar said that he interacted with a group of people about 35 people including men and women at Novtol School, each one of them had to hold sticks in their hand to measure the water and cross. They have left their young children and elderly people behind in their village because they could not cross the water. They had not eaten anything for 18 days till EFICOR started the community kitchen there. Some maize was left in their village for the young children and elderly but they don't know how long they could survive on that.

EFICOR has been feeding about 4000 people in the relief camps through community kitchens in Saharsa and Madhepura districts. Their meals consist of rice, pulses, soya bean and potato curry, vegetable curry (depending on availability) for two meals and flattened rice & sugar/jaggery for breakfast. Boiled eggs were also given to pregnant women and children below 6 years and apples were also given to pregnant women and lactating mothers.

The camps coordinated by EFICOR staff each with a team of four to six volunteers in each camp. They live in the camp site to ensure food materials are safe and systematic distribution of food is done.

The health camps were organized in two camps in coordination with the district administration was timely as many children suffering from diarrhoea and viral fever were treated. Measles vaccination was carried out for the children. Government has also provided bleaching powder, ORS packets, Halogen (water purification) tablets and kerosene on subsidized rates.

The Government has provided posters and health workers to monitor health of the people in the camps to prevent outbreak of epidemics. Health awareness is being done through demonstration in each camp every day.

People are using bore well water for drinking. The camps are provided with tube wells of which some are newly constructed by the local leaders after seeing the need. Though the water table in the region is high and tube wells could be made easily (water come by 15-20 feet), there is high chance of contamination.

Recreational activities have been started in each camp. Carrom board, volley ball, shuttles etc were some games started for children, men and women. A Taskforce is being created in each camp with young men & women, who will be given training on Disaster Management

EFICOR appeals to everyone for support. EFICOR plans to provide food till waters recede. The situation would be assessed shortly, to consider EFICOR's second phase operation to rehabilitate 15,000 affected people

For more details on Bihar flood relief, please contact:

Mr Sanjeev Kumar Bhanja, Director -Programmes, EFICOR +91-9910398604

For donations: All donations sent to EFICOR are exempted under section 80(G) of the IT Act of 1961. Regd. No. DIT(E) 2007-2008/E-38/2092 (valid till 31.03.2010)

Cash can be deposited anywhere in India in our ICICI Bank account No. 008701018157 in case of direct transfer and mail your contact details so that we can acknowledge receipt of your contribution.

Cheque or drafts in favour of EFICOR, New Delhi can be addressed to : EFICOR 308 Mahatta Tower B Block Community Centre Janakpuri New Delhi 110058 Telefax 25515383/4/5 Email:hq@eficor.org Website :eficor.org

For further details please contact : Mrs Sheila George Manager - Publicity Mobile :09810986890


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

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Topics

•  Floods

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Emergencies

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Members

•  Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR) - India

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

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