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By Kit Shangpliang, World Vision India
Relief and rehabilitation efforts by the government and aid agencies, including World Vision are underway in the hardest-hit districts of Orrissa, India after days of rain caused severe flooding in low lying areas in east, northeast and southwest India.
In Orissa, water levels of swollen rivers are starting to drop and flood waters are receding, revealing thousands of acres of damaged ground nut and rice crops.
With flood waters receding in most areas, most families are leaving relief camps and returning back to their homes. Due to the wide-spread damage, thousands continue to struggle for food and shelter.
In response to the urgent needs of affected communities, World Vision will provide seeds to the families of sponsored children whose crops have been washed away.
World Vision India’s Relief Director, Franklin Joseph, says World Vision has identified further means of assistance that will help children and their families get back on track. “World Vision India is looking to provide food, mosquito nets and temporary roofing to 5,000 needy families,” he said.
Sponsored children participating in World Vision’s Area Development Programmes are safe and accounted for.
The Ministry of Home Affairs confirms that after days of continuous downpour, the number of people who lost their lives now stands at 93. Nearly 2 million people have been affected by the flooding, nation-wide.
Flood waters are reported to be receding in all five flood-affected states of Orrissa, Assam, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and Kerela.
Community resilience fostered through development programmes
World Vision has been building the resiliency of the communities through self-help groups and income generation programmes to enable villagers to take immediate action to recover from volatile weather patterns.
“Many of the self-help groups here have built up their resources to pull through this disaster,” said Mayurbhanj Area Development Programme Manger, Ephraim Naik. “After facing years of flooding, people in this area have learned how to minimize damage and continue earning income in difficult circumstances,” he continued.
World Vision will continue to monitor the situation, wary that remaining flood water can act as a potential breeding ground for bacteria and other water-borne diseases.
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