Christians Help Flood Hit in India as Death Toll Soars

With the Government of India's latest announcement that 2,281 people have lost their lives in India to the southwest monsoon since June, Christians remain in the region to bring vital relief to those in need.

In Bihar, the hardest hit state in India, almost 10,000 villages with a population of over 20 million have been affected in the state's worst flooding in 30 years. More than 530 medical teams and 7,000 boats have been deployed in the state to provide medical care to the survivors, according to government sources. Military helicopters have dropped thousands of food packets to those affected.

In the eastern state of Orissa, state health workers were working to contain an outbreak of cholera. "People in several low-lying areas - where roads were submerged and water gushed into houses- suffered enormous panic," wrote a local source in Cuttack, Orissa.

US-based Christian organisation India Partners is conducting relief in the states of Bihar, Orissa, and Andhra Pradesh in partnership with several long-term local agencies, including EFICOR and Orphans Faith Home. To date, $24,000 has been raised to provide emergency food packets, clean water, medicines, and temporary shelter to 4,000 people for 3 weeks.

The relief agency continues to seek funding to provide food, blankets, medicine, water, and temporary shelter for flood survivors.

"We are requesting assistance from individuals, foundations, corporations, and churches - anyone who would like to join us in helping and comforting the individuals and families struggling for their lives at this time," said India Partners President, Brent Hample.

Close to 3,200 people in south Asia have died as the heavy monsoon rains and floods have taken their toll. Rivers are overflowing, tens of thousands of villages have been washed out, and refugees have numbered in the tens of millions. The number of people affected will rise as floodwaters recede, and water-borne diseases continue to spread. Outbreaks of diarrhea and cholera have been confirmed.