Bonn, 13.08.2007. Deutsche Welthungerhilfe (German Agro Action) is raising its relief funds for the victims of the flood disaster in South Asia. A total of 500,000 euros are now available in order to distribute the still urgently needed relief supplies. Part of this sum is being provided by the German Federal Government.

In Nepal about 7,000 people in the lowlands are receiving blankets and clothes as well as tarpaulin and mats for emergency accommodation. In India colleagues from Welthungerhilfe's local partner organisation are distributing food such as rice, lentils and oil to 25,000 affected people in the state of Bihar as well as 4,500 people in the state of Assam. In addition those affected are receiving mosquito nets as well as water purification tablets. Food packets are being distributed to 10,000 people in Bangladesh for a number of days now. In collaboration with its local partner organisations, Welthungerhilfe is currently providing for 45,000 flood victims in the affected region.

Almost 28 million people have been affected by the unusually heavy and premature monsoon rainfall in South Asia. Entire tracts of land are still under metres of water, although water levels are dropping in some areas. "It's impossible to estimate the full scale of the damage at the moment," says Welthungerhilfe's flood relief coordinator, Dr. Heinz Peters. "We have to continue providing for people and later help them with reconstruction after the water has cleared."

Welthungerhilfe is already making initial preparations to support reconstruction in the affected areas. As soon as water levels have dropped, the process of rebuilding houses and cleaning wells will begin.

For further information see www.welthungerhilfe.de