Devastating floods affect millions in South Asia

An estimated 30 million people have lost their homes and livelihoods after the worse floods in South Asia for 30 years. Across Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Nepal the affected are in dire need of food, water and shelter with millions still waiting for aid to reach them.

The disaster is not over. Although the floods are slowly receding in many areas the health situation has worsened with the onset of disease, particularly diarrhoea and cholera. There is still the threat of further flooding as the monsoon rains continue. ActionAid is continuing to provide emergency relief across the region but further aid is desperately needed.

In India over 12 million people have been stranded or left homeless. Difficulty in accessing many of the affected villages (over 16,500) is still causing major delays to aid distribution, with most being delivered by air and boat. An alarming amount of water sources in the affected areas are said to be either contaminated or submerged.

In Pakistan over 2.5 million people have been affected but lack of funding is seriously affecting the relief effort, and more than a million children are at risk from infectious disease. Further rains and storms have worsened the situation for many of those already displaced, and in some areas survivors are living without tents on roads and in other public places.

In Bangladesh almost 25 million people are either marooned or homeless and are taking refuge in makeshift shelters. There is a severe drinking water crisis and health officials estimate that nearly 35,000 have contracted water-borne diseases. Currently only 200,000 of those affected have been provided sheltered by the government.

In Nepal over 200,000 people have been affected by floods and landslides, and many areas are still under water. Houses and crops have been destroyed and farmland rendered useless. Communications have been severely damaged which is severely hampering relief efforts.

ActionAid’s response
ActioActionAid has been working with partners to bridge the relief gaps and reach the poorest communities with much needed relief aid.

Bangladesh
ActionAid partners have actively taken part in the emergency rescue operations in the affected areas, and have already identified over 5,000 families in need of immediate aid. Relief packs are being distributed containing drinking water, rice, molasses, candles and water-purification tablets, but people are now in need of regular food supply.

Pakistan
We are working in Baluchistan and Sindh region distributing medicines, food and water in poor villages and to those who have been displaced to higher grounds by floodwaters - the risk from diseases is increasing and there is dire need for further medical supplies.

India
We are extending our support by providing essential relief to four affected districts and providing water tanks for the distribution of safe drinking water. Mobile health camps have been set up in the most affected areas to combat the spread of disease, but there is a desperate need for these camps to be available in other districts.

Nepal
ActionAid Nepal and our partner organisations are providing immediate food relief to those affected across the country and raising funds locally to pay for food, medicine and shelter.

photo : ©ActionAid