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 areas affected by the floods which hit in summer 2007,are in dire need of food, water and shelter with millions still waiting for aid to reach them.

The floods slowly receded but in many areas the health situation was heightened by the onset of disease, particularly diarrhoea and cholera. There is still the threat of flooding again in the approaching monsoon season. 

In India over 12 million people were stranded or left homeless in the immediate aftermath of the flooding. Difficulty in accessing many of the affected villages (over 16,500) caused major delays to aid distribution, with most being delivered by air and boat. An alarming amount of water sources in the affected areas became contaminated or submerged.

In Pakistan over 2.5 million people were affected but a lack of funding seriously affected the relief effort. This was particularly worrying as more than a million children were at risk from infectious disease. The situation was made worse by further rains and storms which affected many of those who had already been forced to leave their homes. In some areas survivors had to live without tents on roads and in other public places.

In Bangladesh almost 25 million people were either marooned or made homeless as a result of the flooding, many of whom took refuge in makeshift shelters. Additional problems were caused by a severe drinking water crisis which health officials estimated allowed nearly 35,000 to contract water-borne diseases. In the immediate aftermath, only 200,000 of those affected were provided with shelter by the government.

In Nepal over 200,000 people were affected by floods and landslides. Houses and crops were destroyed and farmland rendered useless. Communications were severely damaged which is hampered relief efforts.

ActionAid’s response
ActioActionAid worked with partners to address gaps in relief 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
ActionAid worked 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. There was a high risk of disease which created a dire need for further medical supplies.

India
ActionAid extended their support by providing essential relief to four affected districts and providing water tanks for the distribution of safe drinking water. Mobile health camps were set up in the most affected areas to combat the spread of disease, but there was a desperate need for these camps to be available in other districts.

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