Emergencies
 Residents move in a boat as flood waters inundate a market in Tangail, Bangladesh. Photo: Reuters/Rafiqur Rahmann, courtesy www.alertnet.org

South Asia Floods Emergency Update

In August, floods in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal caused by monsoon rains and cyclones devastated the lives of over 40 million people.

This was the worst flooding the region has seen for nearly a decade.  Families have lost homes, livestock, crops and food supplies, making day-to-day life a struggle and putting millions of children at risk. Stagnant waters and food shortages are contributing to outbreaks of disease.

Thank you to all our supporters who donated so quickly and generously to this emergency appeal.  Save the Children was quick to respond in all four countries, working with our local partners to help children and their families.  The following is an update on the emegency response. 

Bangladesh

Save the Children is assisting the affected population by providing access to safe water and hygienic sanitation through cleaning, disinfecting, rehabilitating and installing new water points and latrines at the flood shelters, embankments and schools.We are also assisting in evacuating casualties and those affected to the nearest flood shelters and have evacuated over 5,000 people.  We have also:

  • completed distributing emergency food and non-food items to 27,565 families
  • distributing agricultural seeds and saplings to the affected population
  • we are repairing partially damaged tube wells and installed new tube wells in the flood affected districts to avert the outbreak of waterborne diseases
  • assessments are being conducted to restore damaged toilets in the registered non-governmental schools to ensure that children have access to hygienic sanitation
  • medical response including treatment of flood affected population with essential drugs to combat the situation of diarrhea and water borne diseases in the areas of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Serajgonj, Manikganj, Madaripur and Shariatpur districts.

India

We aim to reach a total of 13,341 families, including over 30,000 children with emergency health care and clean water, temporary shelter, food assistance, child protection, education, and livelihoods while strengthening the communities’ resilience to future disasters.

  • Food Assistance: An initial one-month food package has been distributed to 4569 children, pregnant and lactating mothers and elderly people
  • Health: 6464 patients, including 2500 children, have received medical attention in temporary health camps and through our cholera response.
  • Water and Sanitation: Approximately 4500 children have benefited through distribution of sanitation materials and oral rehydration salts and repairs to 20 community tube wells
  • Shelter: 2,500 families, including 5,000 children, have received tarpaulins for temporary shelter.
  • Education and Protection: 3,300 children have received educational kits and support in returning to school.

Nepal

Save the Children continues to support flood and landslide affected families in 11 districts of eastern, mid and far western Terai areas. We are working particularly in the areas of health, hygiene and sanitation, education, livelihood and shelter support program areas.

  • an additional 2,000 families are in the process of getting relief items
  • Save the Children together with the government health office worked together to control out break of diarrhoea in communities of Siraha district. Our support included providing locally prepared nutritious food for children.
  • provided health support to 1,497 affected persons including 546 children in Udayapur district. 
  • We are working to provide government’s approved children’s fortified foods and conduct health camps together with Ministry of Health in selected severely affected districts.
  • support in the renovation of damaged schools and Ccmmunity-based Child Development Centres and education materials for children.

Pakistan

To date, Save the Children has provided:

  • 2,235 families with basic hygiene and food supplies in Turbat district.
  • 1,000 families with basic hygiene and food supplies in Bolan and Kharan districts.
  • 700 families with United Nations-supplied shelter and non-food items in Chagai district.
  • We will work in at least 100 communities to repair damaged schools or provide transitional solutions where schools were destroyed. These schools will be provided with teaching and learning materials, as well as a short orientation to empower teachers to help children cope with the changed situation. 
  • We are working with the government to ensure 6,675 children under five and 892 pregnant or breastfeeding women have access to essential nutrition services.

We still need your help: South Asia Emergency Appeal - 3 easy ways to donate

  • Download a donation form
  • Call our toll free number 1800 76 00 11 and donate over the phone.

 

Relevant Links

Link Arrow. Arrow (Copyright: International Save the Children Alliance)Media centre - Save the Children Australia: contact Sharyn Hanly:  +61 3 9938 2011 or Mob: 0418 560 810