Urgent Relief Intervention from QRC for India Flood Victims

Doha, October 12 (QNA) - The Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) relief mission in India made a preliminary assessment of humanitarian conditions and urgent needs in the flood-stricken parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, beside distributing relief assistance to some of the most-needy families, in coordination with Mother Helpage. The delegation visited three districts of Jammu and Kashmir and selected a village in Pulwama district for urgent response, by distributing food assistance to 300 families, consisting of rice, lentils, water, oil, spices, salt, and sugar. They also received bedcovers fitting six individuals per family, as well as hygiene kits. The mission was originally planned to last for one week, during which the team would coordinate with NGOs, examine the situation on the ground, and negotiate executive partnerships with the organizations working there in case an immediate relief response is required. However, it was extended for two additional days to conduct the relief distributions. As the mission arrived in New Delhi, they held several meetings with the Islamic Relief - India (IRI), Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), and Mother Helpage Worldwide. Then, they made a field trip to Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and the worst-hit region, with 80% of its land submerged by 12-14 feet high floods, which wiped out whole villages. The mission toured all over the state, particularly medical facilities and the relief camp. These investigatory efforts showed the magnitude of the disaster and its severe impact on the affected local communities. Official figures reveal 300 reported deaths, but informal estimates raise the number to as high as 1,000, to be added to 280 missing people. The floods also destroyed 67,934 homes, 12,553 roads, and 30 bridges, hindering timely relief operations. All medical and educational facilities were totally damaged, and there are 10-11 million people affected by this natural disaster in 15 regions. The humanitarian response priorities are as follows: Six-month food assistance after the agriculture was destroyed, domestic animals died, and food stock ran out with most households; Nonfood items including kitchenware, hygiene kits, mattresses, building and maintenance material for partly damaged homes, and dewatering pumps; Sheltering, particularly with the approach of snowfall, accumulating to form possibly 10 meter high blocs, as well as winter needs such as heavy clothes, heaters, and blankets; Drinking water, as the water station was destroyed; Rehabilitation of hospitals and supply of medications; Sanitation services such as dewatering and garbage collection to prevent infections and waterborne diseases. A survey made by the mission found out that a sheltering home costs $5,000, small village clinics cost $2,000 each, and mobile public toilets cost $300 each. Jammu and Kashmir saw devastating floods that are considered the worst in six decades. Heavy rains for four consecutive days early in September caused landslides and the flooding of four rivers, submerging 420 villages and leaving some other 2,500 villages at risk. Since the beginning of this month, South Asia has been swept by a wave of massive floods, which mainly stroke four countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. In Bangladesh, three million people in 41 regions were affected by the floods, which destroyed 34,000 homes and displaced more than 300,000 people. In Pakistan, four rivers overflowed due to nonstop rains, leaving behind 481 dead and 915 injured as on 15 September, as well as 5,848 destroyed homes and enormously hit infrastructure. The number of distressed people is estimated at more than two million people, including 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Nepal suffered floods and landslides in 17 regions, with 285 deaths, 155 missing victims, 225,000 affected populations, 5,200 IDPs, 8,000 totally destroyed homes, and 20,000 badly damaged homes. (QNA)