Flood-Affected State is Among India's Most Malnourished

August 7, 2007, New Delhi - Catholic Relief Services (CRS) today purchased 200 metric tons of high-energy fortified milk biscuits for distribution to 400,000 women and children in the Indian state of Bihar -— an area already plagued by malnutrition before suffering massive damage from this week's monsoon flooding. The value of the food is $170,000, increasing the agency's commitment for India relief efforts to more than $500,000 to date.

"The state of Bihar ranks among the lowest in terms of socio-economic indicators. Already people are vulnerable, without safety nets. In the best of times, they survive on a meager daily wage -— income that is likely lost now that the crops they were tending have been washed away," said Jennifer Poidatz, CRS India country representative.

CRS will provide a 10-day ration of prepared fortified high energy biscuits to thousands of families that have no access to cooking facilities or fuel. The food -— which will fill as many as 15 large trucks -— will be transported to Bihar from nearby states and distributed on the ground in coordination with UNICEF, the local government, and Caritas India.

In the state of Bihar alone, it is reported that about 11 million people are affected. From that figure, 1.6 million are children under 5 years of age, of whom 400,000 are considered especially vulnerable.

"Water levels have reached up to 15 feet. Tens of thousands of families are trapped in their homes or can be seen camped out on railroad tracks or elevated roads. These families have no access to fuel or cooking facilities. Water hand pumps have been submerged and the distribution of halogen tablets for water purification is not sufficient," said Poidatz.

Across the country, CRS has been working with local partners and the government to carry out relief operations in five states -— from Andhra Pradesh in the South to Orissa on the eastern coast. Over the past month, CRS has reached an estimated 50,000 families with emergency medical care, plastic sheeting to cover damaged sections of their homes, food, and water filters to for safe cooking and drinking.

Another distribution to be carried out this week will be in the northeast state of Assam, where CRS will distribute 22.5 MT of food, providing a 15-day ration for nearly 1,000 families across 23 villages. Over the past several days in Assam, CRS has distributed 1,641 water filters, 1,817 mosquito nets.

Across South Asia

Nepal The devastation covers a large swath of the country, making relief efforts especially difficult. From east to west, the most damage is felt in the lowland (Terai) belt that borders India. Flood waters have destroyed houses, crops and food stocks, and left many farm animals dead. CRS' partner has distributed immediate emergency relief to several thousand families in four districts, and staff and partners are carrying out assessments in and around the most vulnerable areas of Janakpur.

"The biggest problem is access. The roads have been washed out, the bridges have been washed away. We might be able to do some of our assessments by motor bike, but we imagine we'll mostly be walking. Instead of going really high tech on this assessment, we've got to go low tech. Bicycles, pedestrians and animals are best able to move around to flood-affected areas, which is what we need to reach people who are especially vulnerable in remote villages," said Cassie Dummett, CRS' emergency technical advisor on the ground in Nepal.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, more than half of the country's districts (40 districts out of 64) are flooded and in need of relief. CRS' partner distributed food to 7,500 families so far, and continue to carry out assessments in the most heavily affected areas, paying special attention to issues of clean water and threat of water-borne disease -— common dangers during floods due to water run-off and contamination of wells, ponds and other water sources.

In Pakistan, CRS has prioritized water and shelter in remote areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces, which suffered the worst flooding and cyclone damage in decades. The disaster posed enormous logistical challenges with regard to access and transportation of materials. Given its history and partnerships in the country, CRS was among the first to respond in the area and to date has reached 4,000 families with relief kits, hygiene training, and water purification tablets.

For interviews, photos or more information, contact Caroline Brennan in New Delhi at +91.93.50.96.79.99 / cbrennan@crsindia.org or Kat Burnside in Baltimore at 410-951-7507 /kburnsid@crs.org.

CRS has worked in India since 1946, in Pakistan since 1951, and supported programs in Bangladesh and Nepal for more than 30 years. Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian organization of the U.S. Catholic Church, and works in 99 countries and territories providing emergency relief and long-term development support to people on the basis of need, regardless of race, creed, or nationality.