Leading international aid and development agency World Vision is looking to contribute $1 million to alleviate the increasingly desperate plight of the flood-hit South Asia countries India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Over 28 million people have been affected by the floods of recent weeks, with around ten million people displaced or left homeless.

And with the monsoon season in India and Bangladesh not due to end until early September, World Vision's locally based staff in the region fear worse may be yet to come.

In India, the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have to date been the worst affected by the incessant rains, which have led to the flooding of several rivers that cover the area. More than 200 people have been killed, and over ten million affected or displaced.

In Bangladesh, the floods have engulfed 38 of the country's 64 districts and displaced or left stranded an estimated eight million people. At least 164 people have been killed.

According to government statistics 1.9 million families in 235 sub-districts of the 38 districts in Bangladesh remain stranded. Shortage of food and drinking water is acute in the affected districts of the country and water borne diseases are spreading fast.

World Vision is conducting assessments and providing immediate aid to worst hit areas and the Government has set up medical camps in an attempt to stop diseases from spreading.

In Nepal, the floods have killed 84 people in the past fortnight and displaced 14,705 families, which at a 5 person per family rate is around 73,525 people.

While the floods are now receding in some parts of Nepal, revealing the full extent of the damage, World Vision is warning that the on-going monsoon season in India and Bangladesh brings the possibility of more flooding, continued displacements of already vulnerable families and the threat of disease.

Dr. Jayakumar Christian, World Vision India National Director, said: "The last two weeks have seen some of the worst flooding in living memory.

"World Vision India, Bangladesh and Nepal have already responded with initial relief supplies to many of these communities in and around current areas of operation. Governments in the three countries have also responded with the resources that they have. In many cases the army has been called out to help."

National Director Dr.Jayakumar and a team of World Vision relief specialists are currently visiting communities in parts of the severely flooded north Indian state of Bihar, as they continue to assess the response program and aid distributions. Meeting with local World Vision staff and community members trained in disaster mitigation, they will also discuss the immediate and long-term needs of the stricken communities.

Across the three countries as World Vision continue to operate its relief programs the international agency is already beginning to plan for future rehabilitation programs as livelihoods and crops have been badly damaged by the heavy floodwaters.

In addition to providing food, clothes and essentials such as temporary shelter and cooking utensils for families afflicted by the current floods, World Vision is working with other NGOs and local communities on risk reduction programmes in the wider area.

World Vision can put you in contact with spokespeople and experts on the ground and can provide photographs of the flood-affected communities. To arrange this please call communications officers from the three country National offices:

· India: Jayanth Vincent, Communications Director World Vision India. Phone: +91 44 2480 7052 | Mobile: +91 98400 64165 E-mail: jayanth_vincent@wvi.org

· Bangladesh: Raphael Palma, Communications WV Bangladesh. Phone (Off): +88 02-8813555-7, +88 15515-7, Mobile: 0171-3011673, E-mail: raphael_palma@wvi.org

· Amio J Ascension, Communications WV Bangladesh. Mobile: +88 171301 1678. E-mail: amio_ascension@wvi.org

· Nepal: Pradeep Silwal, Communication & Media Relations World Vision Nepal. Phone: (Office) 977-1-4434943 Ext 252 , Cell phone: 9779851054527. Email: pradeep_silwal@wvi.org

· Or contact Andrea Russell Regional Crisis & Relief Communications Manager Asia Pacific - Position based in India. Phones: In India +91 040 40179428 (home office); +91 99892 38223 [cell]. E-mail: andrea_russell@wvi.org

· For funding proposals or donor enquiries please contact Richard Rumsey, Regional HEA Director, Asia Pacific. Office: +65 6511 7100. E-mail: richard_rumsey@wvi.org