Bihar Flood 2008 Relief Effort Activity Report Dated- 3rd of Sep. 2008 Summary: Combined effort of various organization working and serving together

Activity Report Dated- 3rd of Sep. 2008

Summary:

Combined effort of various organization working and serving together to provide relief to victims of devastating flood in Bihar, India. 3,500 dedicated volunteers working round the clock rescuing, distributing relief materials, providing food and essential health care.

From Aug. 19th itself, seven Sewa centers (camps) were setup in most effected districts providing immediate relief. Relief materials are collected at centers and then distributed to the people in need through boats. Relief center in Saharsa and all seven centers are providing food to thousands and we plan to set up relief centers at more locations.

Brief Outline of Topography:

On the East of Kosi Embankment is situated the districts of Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Saharsa and Madhepura and on the West of embankment lies the districts of Madhubani, Darbhanga and Samastipur.
KUSAHA is the name of the place where the embankment broke, on the 18th of August 2008, causing this catastrophic, leaving behind an unforgettable tale for the survivors of the floods. Kusaha is located at a distance of 12 KM from the Indian border, in Nepal, where, the embankment broke, built over the Birpur Barrage in the Bhimnagar district of Nepal.

Our Infrastructure:

Organizations like Sewa International, Sewa Bharati, SIS, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and other like minded organizations are working together, and serving under the banner of “BARH RAHAT SAHAYTA SAMITI” with it’s centre at Saharsa and “BARH PEERIT SAHAYTA SAMITI” with it’s headquarters at Muzafferpur, Bihar.
We are fortunate to have a very strong force, of over 3500 dedicated volunteers involved, working round the clock rescuing, distributing relief materials, providing food and essential health care etc. We are at an advantage, in having local volunteers, who are well aware of the topography, hence reaching far flung areas to locate the needy people, who were waiting to be evacuated to safer locations, in the first place and provide them with the needed help, which other agencies involved aren’t able to reach, as they are unaware of the place.

Response:

From 19th of August 2008 itself, we set up 7 Sewa Centers/Camps in seven most affected districts to provide immediate relief, food, shelter and treating sick people on arrival. The seven centers as mentioned below:

1. Raghopur: Catering to the needs of flood victims of Raghopur, Pratapgarh and Saraigarh.
2. Vivah Bhawan, Shankar Chawk, and Saharsa: Helping people of Saharsa and Supaul district.
3. Bihariganj, Madhepura : taking care of people of Madhepura district
4. Sewa Bharati Office, Madhubani Chawk, Purnea: For people of Purnea district & adjoining districts too.
5. Sangh Karyalaya, Shiv Mandir Chawk, and Katihar: For flood victims of Katihar.
6. Sangh Karyalaya, Nawgachhia: For people of Bhagalpur district.
7. Shiv Mandir, Forbisganj, Araria: Catering to the victims of Forbisganj and adjoining places.

Relief materials coming to us from different places are being collected at these centers, from where they are sent to be distributed to the deserving people through small boats and even by head loads, by our volunteers. A separate relief centre has been set up in Zila School, Saharsa where over 4000 people have taken shelter who are being fed & are being taken care of. From 29th of August ’08, all the seven centers have also set up community kitchen where over 3000 people are being fed daily and we have plans to open more such mass feeding camps at different locations too to reach to maximum flood victims.

Apart from the above mention centers, we have set up 21 sub-centers to reach to the people faster and provide them with the much needed support like the packeted food, essential medications, water, mosquito nets, and essential household utensils and good, cloths, polythene sheets, lanterns, candles & match boxes etc.

The water is showing no signs of receding due to incessant rains hence, the rescue and relief may still continue for a longer period, hence constant support is needed.

SEWA INTERNATIONAL INDIA

To contribute online visit www.sewausa.org or send check to:

P.O. Box 14622

Fremont, CA 94539

PDF version

SEWA INTERNATIONAL, UK appeals

Bihar Flood Appeal 2008 " src="http://www.sewainternational.com/images/news_img/fh_2" vspace="10" width="400" border="0">

"The flood situation in Bihar, India, this year has been the worst in the living memory, leaving thousands dead and rendering homeless and destroying crops, cattle and property worth billions. The hapless victims of this catastrophe are in dire need of helping hand and will have to begin their lives from scratch when the flood waters recede. " ………………………………………………………………………………………… SEWA INTERNATIONAL, UK appeals the benevolent to help these unfortunate victims. Your support will help reduce the sufferings of these people in the flood affected state of Bihar, living in the remote areas. Sewa International will help the flood victims to bring back life to normal in the state of Bihar. Information & Credit Card Hotline Telephone: 0116 261 0303 (Between 10am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday) (10am – 3.00pm Saturday) Please send your generous donations to (no stamp needed): Sewa International, FREEPOST LE 6407, 46-48 Loughborough Road, Leicester, LE4 5LD, UK (Please make Cheques payable to “Sewa International” and mark the envelope for the attention of: Sewa International (UK) Bihar Flood Appeal 2008 Or donate securely on-line: Bihar Flood Appeal 2008 Make a Donation Online You can download this appeal by clicking here

Bihar Flood Relief Appeal – Sewa International USA immediately releases $2,000 Friday 29th of August 2008 The Times of India calls it "India's Katrin

Source: newspostindia.com
Friday 29th of August 2008

The Times of India calls it "India's Katrina; only the challenges could be bigger"



Bihar is currently experiencing devastating floods. The embankment along the Kosi river in northern Bihar has broken , drowning towns and numerous villages – many are reported dead or rendered homeless.

More than 2 million people are affected and over a million have become homeless. The district of Supaul alone has 500 villages destroyed and over 600,000 people affected. Innumerable amount of crops and property have been destroyed or damaged. The flood situation is very dire and every day the level of water is increasing and affecting more people.

Sewa International volunteers are already at work providing relief & succor to the flood victims and plans to take up the challenging task of rehabilitating flood victim. The most urgent needs include shelter, access to fresh water, food, emergency medical supplies, and basic household items.

Sewa International USA has immediately donated $2,000 and has launched an appeal to help these unfortunate victims. Your support will help reduce the suffering of these people in the flood affected states, living in the remotest areas. Sewa International will do its best to help the flood victims in restoring their normal lives with the help of our partner organizations

Sewa bharati and sewa international helping Bihar flood victims

Sewa International and the partner organzation such as Sewa Bharati has been providing relief to people effected by devastating flood since Aug. 19th itself. Below is a photo of materials being dispatched from New Delhi office.

Religious differences 'sink' in Kosi floods Wed, Sep 3 05:34 PM The Kosi may have changed its course killing and displacing many in Bihar, but the r

Source: Indian Express

Wed, Sep 3 05:34 PM

The Kosi may have changed its course killing and displacing many in Bihar, but the river has also 'sank' religious differences as evident in relief camps where RSS men were seen serving food to Muslims.

Clad in khaki shorts and caps, RSS men are serving gram and flattened rice to Muslim flood victims in a relief camp at Saharsa.

The camp being run by 'Seva Bharti', a Sangh Parivar outfit, at the zila school campus at Saharsa presents a rare but heartening sight where the devastating deluge of Kosi has sunk bitterness and differences.

"Over a 100 people of my community are taking shelter here for more than a week now and we have absolutely no complaint. Life cannot be better than this in a relief shelter," says Mohammed Salauddin, who fled Parba village in Madhepura district along with his family to escape the flood fury.

In another camp, a kilometre away, a joyful reunion was taking place. The prayers of Phulo Devi, who has observed fasts on all occasions of 'Teej', have been answered.

Nago Paswan, her husband, who works as a farmhand in far away Punjab and had not visited their village in Murliganj in Madhepura for the last couple of years, rushed home when he learned of the flood havoc, but was stranded at Saharsa.

As luck would have it, he met Phulo and his children Rinku, Mamta and Rahul at the relief camp.

"I am relieved that my family is alive. I had given up hope after watching on TV the destruction caused in Murliganj," says Nago