Red Cross Red Crescent seek support as floods wreak havoc across India
25 July 2001

Concern for the welfare of hundreds of thousands of flood victims in Orissa is growing as they spend a second week marooned without food and water, says the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies.

About eight million people have been affected by the floods in the east Indian state, the worst there in 50 years. But other states have also been hit, including Chattisgarh, west of Orissa and West Bengal. In response, the International Federation is launching an international request for assistance in supporting relief and medical activities conducted by the Indian Red Cross in Orissa and other flood-affected states.

Since the start of the floods in Orissa early July, the Indian Red Cross has distributed food, plastic sheeting, water purification tablets and other relief items for more than 40,000 people. Red Cross volunteers have been making up 2,500 food packets a day which are airdropped by airforce helicopters to stranded communities. But while floodwaters have subsided in some areas, there has been fresh flooding in the north of the state and more heavy rainfall forecast elsewhere.

"Food rations, plastic sheeting for shelter and clean water are among the immediate priorities. With each passing day, the hundreds of thousands of people who have been stranded by the floodwaters, become more vulnerable to the outbreak of disease," says Dr Vimala Ramalingam, Secretary General of the Indian Red Cross.

In Orissa, the Indian Red Cross, with support from the Federation, will target approximately 156,000 people with relief and medical support in three of the worst hit districts - Puri, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur. While the situation in Orissa is severe, much of the water originates from heavy rains in neighbouring Chattisgarh which has also seen inondations while water levels are beginning to rise in West Bengal. Tarpaulins, blankets and family parcels will be prepared for 5,000 families there.

"The immediate focus is on Orissa but last year over 20 million people were affected by floods in West Bengal. Monsoon rains will continue until September so it's important that we pre-position relief materials to be prepared for the worst case scenario," explains Martin De Vries, South Asia programme coordinator at the Federation.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Delhi
Patrick Fuller, Regional Information Delegate tel: ++ 91 98 100 99 794/91 11 685 8671

Geneva
Jemini Pandya, Information Officer tel: ++ 41 22 730 4570/41 79 217 3374

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.