Silver Spring, Maryland—Monsoon rains have flooded large regions of Southeast Asia since early July, devastating communities and crops throughout Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and China. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has responded immediately to the flooding in India, China, and Nepal. It expects to expand its response in the coming days.

In India, ADRA began providing on August 1 emergency food packs for approximately 3,600 people who are recovering from the extensive flooding in the eastern state of West Bengal, where heavy rainfall overflowed rivers, submerged acres of farmland, and destroyed entire villages.

After 20 days of steady rainfall, more than 5 million people have been affected by the disaster, with some reports claiming a death toll of up to 79 people. At least 9,316 villages have been affected, with hundreds of homes damaged in the district of East Midnapur alone.

Although the rains have somewhat abated and the rivers are under check, Paulo Lopes, country director for ADRA India, reports that waters have not fully receded and water damage has caused great concern to the communities. Survivors continue to be in desperate need of emergency supplies such as food, potable water, clothing, and shelter.

To help meet the immediate needs of flood survivors, these 710 families in the East Midnapur and Ramganganagar districts of West Bengal are each receiving food packages that contain 22 pounds of rice, seven pounds of dhal, cooking oil, one pack of salt, and two pounds of sugar.

Priority is being given to families who lost their homes and all personal belongings. Immediate care is also being provided to the most vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant mothers, and young children.

"We chose the items for the food packs because they're the most essential and basic components of people's normal diet in the region," says Lopes. "Each food package is expected to last up to two weeks and has helped meet survivor's immediate needs as they try to regain some normalcy in their lives."

ADRA International, the regional ADRA office located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, and the Northern India Union office of Seventh-day Adventists are working in partnership to fund this two-week long project.

ADRA was officially registered in India in 1992. Since then, it has been meeting the needs of that country's people through community development projects, basic health care, water and sanitation initiatives, and economic development programs.

To support ADRA's emergency responses to the severe flooding in Southeast Asia, call 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or donate online to ADRA's Emergency Management fund at www.adra.org.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Media Contact: Nadia McGill ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.5145 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org