Appeal Target: US$ 3,233,140

Balance Requested:  US$ 3,196,908

Over two million people are reported to be affected by floods in Bihar, India, the worst floods to hit this region in decades.  A BBC report of 30 August notes that the death toll has risen to 70, and at least 124,000 people have been evacuated to safer grounds.  The Save the Children Alliance reports that over 500,000 children have been put at risk.  Information below has been received from ACT member Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), which is in the process of mobilizing a substantial emergency response.

The Kosi River, which gathers water from some of the highest mountains in Nepal, including Everest, and enters India in north Bihar, changed its course, and shifted over 120 km eastwards on 18 August 2008. In the process it has rendered useless more than 300 km of embankments that had been built to control its waters, and picked up a channel it had abandoned over 200 years ago. The effect has been enormous, inundating numerous towns and villages that were considered “flood safe areas”, and that had not seen such floods for decades  It is a catastrophe far greater than the annual floods.  People from various villages have taken shelter along the roads as most of their houses have been washed away in the flood waters. The districts of Supaul, Saharsa, Araria, Madhepura, Katihar and Purnea have been badly hit. Supaul District is the most impacted area (500,000 people affected).  Road linkages, water and electricity supplies in the above districts have been badly disrupted. Railway tracks in several places have been submerged under water. Nearly 50,000 people are trapped on the east-west corridor highway, while relief workers said people have taken shelter on roof tops and trees in remote areas.  Six teams of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, along with the Army and Air Force, have been pressed into action in the affected districts. About 17,000 food packets have been airdropped and 71 relief camps have been set up by the government so far. The state government, while sending out an SOS to the Central Government of India, has issued an emergency appeal to all national and international agencies to help the affected population, besides providing every possible a assistance to them.

This revision is to include ACT member the Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) proposal comprising:  temporary shelter materials,  dry rations, water and sanitation, family kits and fodder for livestock.

The CASA proposal remains unchanged.

Project Completion Dates:

CASA - 28 February 2009
LWSI - 28 February 2009

Reporting schedule:

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested:

Signed by:

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office