Press release

Flood response running short of time and money: ActionAid

New Delhi, 7 August, 2007: Flood response is running short of time and money, said ActionAid today.

“We are still in the middle of the monsoon season but the flood response is already running short of time and money. Even if the rains stop, the danger remains as flood accumulated water heightens the risk of diseases such as malaria and encephalitis,” says Harjeet Singh of ActionAid. 

Flood pockets in Bihar and Assam, have a long history of such outbreaks.

“The loss of agriculture has also been phenomenal this year,” says Vinay Ohdar who leads ActionAid’s work in Bihar. “Compensation to landowners who have lost crops will do little to help millions of landless agricultural labourers who are losing the daily wage their families depend on for survival.”

“The poorest communities will need sustained support to get back on their feet,” he adds.

Speaking on the flood situation across South Asia, Unnikrishnan PV, ActionAid emergencies advisor said: “Government’s response to the floods is often more of a knee jerk reaction. Relief is not in tune with the reality on the ground.”

ActionAid has urged government agencies, non-government organisations and international groups to join hands with flood affected communities in responding to the crisis. 

ActionAid is also calling on governments to invest strategically in disaster preparedness and risk reduction. 

On Bihar

The relief commissioner in Bihar has expressed will for greater coordination and cooperation with NGOs after a civil society delegation met with him earlier this week.

Relief aid is not reaching where it is needed the most – far flung villages have remained cut-off for more than a week.

Transport system has broken down, village roads remain submerged.

The food packets dropped by helicopters have proved to be weak giving way to spilling and food wastage rather than feeding the hungry. Flood victims say too often the drops only reach those villages in the media spotlight.

Working with local communities, ActionAid’s emergency response team in Bihar has deployed boats to reach the remote villages. 

“Best practice in emergency response suggests that engaging local communities and using local knowledge to identify the most vulnerable and reach the unreached,” says Unnikrishnan PV.

“The relief Commissioner in Bihar has shown eagerness to work together with NGOs to improve the flood response. This now needs to be followed with clear instructions to local administration so that cooperation and coordination become a reality,” he adds.

Maharashtra - news just in:

Reports are coming in of extensive flooding in Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra’s Vudarbha region where farmer suicides have been rampant.

“I was there last week and agricultural communities were fearing drought. Now there is flooding. Crops have been destroyed but this time by too much rather than too little water,” says Kamini Ranjit Kapadia of ActionAid.

Field workers report that the water level still rising. ActionAid partner organisation Shughda has opened shelters in schools and is working with local people to move the most vulnerable to safe areas. Aid efforts are being hampered as community workers houses have also been damaged.

For more on ActionAid’s flood response please see www.actionaidindia.org

ENDS.