Appeal

India

Floods in Assam, Orissa & West Bengal ASIN83

Appeal Target: US$ 969,345

Geneva, 15 July 2008

Early monsoon rains along with a heavy depression over the Bay Bengal caused continuous and heavy rains from 16 to 20 June in Assam, West Bengal and Orissa, leading to a significant rise in the water levels of all major rivers in the region. Rivers breached embankments and flooded large parts of the coastal districts of the three states. Raging flood waters washed away interstate highways, bridges and railway lines and disrupted road and rail communications in many places.

More than 3.4 million people of Orissa and West Bengal alone have been affected. Normal economic activities have been disrupted. Crops planted early in the season with onset of the monsoons, have been destroyed along with paddy seedlings in seedbeds ready for transplantation.

Many thousands people have taken shelter in temporary relief camps. Conditions are appalling since people are not being provided with basic necessities. Most of the people could not carry food or clothing with them during evacuation and are dependent on assistance from the government and/or other agencies.

The flood waters have destroyed or damaged many mud houses. Repair or reconstruction of these houses will not be possible on account of the continuing monsoon rains which aggravate the flood situation. As a consequence, a large number of families will have to spend the entire monsoon season in damaged houses or under temporary shelter. Safe drinking water is not available and health, hygiene and sanitation are serious concerns.

People belonging to the marginalized sections are the worst affected, having no resources to fall back on.

Two of the ACT members in India, Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and the Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) are proposing emergency relief in their operational areas comprising: ready to eat food, dry rations, temporary shelter materials (plastic sheeting) non-food items and some livelihood support in the form of rice seeds.

Project Completion Dates:

CASA: 31 August 2008

LWSI: 31 October 2008

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FOR THE FULL TEXTS AND BUDGETS OF THE APPEAL (PDF FILE), KINDLY VISIT THE ACT SITE. THANK YOU. ________________________________________________________________________________

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar

Account Number - 240-432629.60A

IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro

Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z

IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG

8, rue du Rhône

P.O. Box 2600

1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND

Swift address: UBSWCHZH80A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer, Yonetani (myo@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.