4 July 2012
Emergency food distributions are being carried out by Tearfund partners in India to help thousands of people hit by flooding.
More than 2 million people are affected by the floods which followed torrential rain across 22 districts of Assam in the country’s north east. Some 70 lives have been lost.
Many of those who have fled their homes are staying in 550 newly created camps and it is among these that partners Neicord and the Emmanuel Hospital Association are supplying rations of dry food.
Neicord has trained church volunteers who are supporting the distribution of food, working in tandem with the government and other agencies. Also local churches have been collecting rice to distribute to flood victims.
'One of the worst'
The floods have been described as ‘one of the worst’ in recent times by India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Indian government has mobilised the National Disaster Response Force, the army and the air force to help those who are suffering.
A Tearfund spokesperson said, ‘We urge people to pray that the rain will stop and that the water level will recede so that people can go back home.
‘Pray too that those affected receive sufficient food and clean drinking water and also for Tearfund partners and the local volunteers as they respond to this disaster.’