For eight days now, twelve-year-old Samata and her family have been living on the highway and thinking about returning home. Now they are facing reality.

"My home is gone. The flood has taken everything", says Samata's mother - Shila Devi. Shila takes care of her five children, her blind mother-in-law and her ailing husband. And the flood that hit their village in Bihar has shown no mercy.

Highway 77 connecting Patna city and Darbanga has become home to thousands of flood-affected families whose houses have been brought down by the recent floods.

Most of the families in the village survived the floods because they were evacuated on time but there was nothing they could do to save their belongings. Now Samata and her family have waded through the muddy, stagnant water to get to what was once their home.

A few old clothes left hanging on the string beside a crumbled home is all the welcome they get. "Most of the clothes have been washed away by the floodwaters", says Shila.

"My dresses have been taken away by the flood!" echoes Samata.

Near their home, lies a crumbled thatched house whose owner could not be found because his family is living on the highway. And hundreds more villagers will tell similar stories of how they have lost their homes, crops, animals, food and clothing.

"Food and housing is the need of the hour", says Shila.

The risk of water-borne disease is also very high. With the water receding slowly, people are still living in conditions of poor sanitation along the highways and railway tracks.

World Vision has begun relief distributions with food and blankets for families in Darbanga district, Bihar. As people start going back to their homes, World Vision is also providing them with a 30-day pack of rations and utensils and blankets to use as they rebuild their lives.

World Vision India hopes to reach around 5000 families in Darbanga district with relief and support to return home. "This is one of the most affected districts which was flooded by waters from the river Bhagmati," says Bikash Ranjan Patra, WV relief staff who is leading the response in Bihar.

While families worry about their houses, possessions and livelihoods, young children like Samata have started missing school. Had it not been for the floods Samata would be in class right now. "We would read the lessons together", said Samata, who admits she thought it was fun skipping school for the first three days. But she no longer likes it. She wants the routine of school hours to return.

Samata's school has totally submerged under water and it will take some weeks if not months for the school to reopen.

Like thousands of other children in these villages, Samata plays in the water making her vulnerable to skin diseases. People in continue to use the flooded water to wash their clothes and tube well water for drinking.

World Vision India Director Jayakumar Christian has spent the last day in Darbangar assisting with the relief efforts.

"There is water everywhere and all you see are a few boats moving around and people are waiting for some form of help," he reported on Wednesday. "The biggest challenge would be when the people start going back - this will be a slow process with the need to address economic, health and infrastructure issues."

Rebuilding homes and reopening schools seems a long way off right now. But in the coming days World Vision relief (including food that will support this family for seven days) will support Samata, her family and the entire village, until they are ready to start.

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