Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
Efforts to tackle the devastating floods in north east India that have affected over 2.7
million people must be increased urgently to avert a secondary disaster due to disease, said Oxfam International today.A lack of clean water and sanitation in crowded camps for displaced
people in the Indian state of Bihar is threatening the lives of thousands of women, men and children, the international aid agency warned.More than one million people have sought refuge in
over 150 relief camps after floods swept away their homes. Search and rescue operations are trying to reach thousands of women, men and children still stranded by floodwaters and urgently in need of
relocation and assistance.“Women and children are bearing the brunt of the disaster, whether huddled in cramped camps or exposed to heat and the rains under the open sky.
Thousands of people are without safe water and are having to defecate in floodwaters. There is a serious risk of diseases breaking out,†said Mani Kumar, coordinating
Oxfam’s response in Bihar.“Hygiene and sanitation facilities are urgently needed to prevent the spread of a water-borne epidemic. More food and shelter is
also needed immediately,†added Kumar.Working with local partner organisations, Oxfam is using motorboats to rescue stranded men, women and children and is distributing
tarpaulin shelter sheets, water purification kits, buckets and oral rehydration sachets for 100,000 people in camps in Supaul, the worst affected district of Bihar.The floods were caused when
heavy rains led to a 2km-breach in the Bhimnagar barrage â€" designed to control floods â€" on the River Koshi near the India-Nepal border on 18 August.Oxfam has been
working in India since 1951 to alleviate poverty and suffering as well as helping communities facing disaster risks to become more resilient.EndsMedia contacts:
In the UK:
Rebecca Wynn: + 447769887139
In New Delhi, India: Michel Anglade: +91 98 18 63 64 20
To arrange interviews with Mani Kumar, coordinator of Oxfam’s response in Bihar,
please contact the representatives named above. More from the Oxfam Press Office at http://www.oxfam.org.uk/news
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
An aerial view of collapsed houses in the earthquake-affected area of Ziarat, one of the main tourist spots in Baluchistan October 29, 2008. About 175 people were killed when a powerful ...
Email 
Print 
