Trying time for women and children as Bihar battles flood fury, reports ActionAid

For photos contact: Pragya Vats +91 9868 42 4692, Parvinder Singh +91 9811 22 4816

4 September, New Delhi: Amidst mounting needs for rescue and relief efforts for survivors in flood hit Bihar, plight of women, pregnant and lactating, worsens, reports ActionAid.

"We saw at least two women in full term of their pregnancy and one who had given birth to a boy just four days ago living in the camp surviving on gruel (khichdi) like others huddled in the camp," says Parvinder Singh of ActionAid who visited the flood affected areas in Saharsa and Supaul districts of Bihar.

Experiences from past disaster show that women and children are amongst the worst hit according to experts.

"Lack of proper lighting in the camps further jeopardises the safety of women in the camps," share ActionAid emergency team working in the area.

According to government officials, there are 260,000 people staying in 275 relief camps in Bihar and at least 700,000 people have been evacuated.

"Government must change gears and go on a war footing to provide relief," says Unnikrishnan PV, ActionAid emergencies advisor. "Women and children must be taken as a priority."

Water-borne disease is a huge risk and there are already reports of diarrhea cases. Absence of medical assistance and public health measures are worsening the crisis.

"No health official has visited this area. We are taking people to a private nursing home nearby who haven't been charging so far," says Pradeep Kumar a social worker running a shelter in Saharsa district along with other young men.

While deployment of army has sped up rescue operations, government's relief efforts are inadequate.

"There is a pressing need to step up efforts to reach the unreached," says Babu Mathew director, ActionAid India.

Villages are likely to remain marooned for a long period and it will take longer for people to return to their homes and stand back on feet.

ActionAid calls for a long term comprehensive response to deal with relief, recovery and disaster preparedness.

Ends.

For information and to arrange interviews contact:

Pragya Vats +91 9868 42 4692, Parvinder Singh +91 9811 22 4816

ActionAid spokespeople:

Unnikrishnan PV ActionAid emergencies advisor, Asia +91 9845 09 1319

Vinay Ohdar, manager ActionAid Bihar region +91 9431 01 5418

Notes to editor:

ActionAid is reaching out to survivors in Pratapur, Basantpur and Triveniganj blocks of Supaul district in flood hit Bihar, one of the worst affected. Our immediate focus is on providing food and medical aid to women and young mothers and setting up shelters for the stranded and installing hand pumps to provide safe drinking water.

Citizen's Initiative on floods in Bihar is a platform of community based organizations, eminent persons, NGOs and INGOs. The forum estimated 2000 deaths based on reports from field workers and other organisations participating in the Citizen's Initiative. Government figures are much lower because they only include those whose bodies have been recovered and don't include those who are missing.

ActionAid is a member of the Citizen's Initiative on Floods in Bihar.

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together. For more visit www.actionaidindia.org