India Floods

Hundreds of thousands of children have been forced to flee their homes after heavy rains in Nepal caused the river Kosi to burst its bank and dramatically change course. Areas thought to be safe became flooded and people were forced to take refuge on embankments, buildings and highways to escape rising flood waters.

These are the worst floods in the region in half a century. Thousands of hectares of crops have been destroyed causing loss of livelihood and shortages of food. According to Government figures 1,469,000 people in 1,081 villages across 13 districts in Bihar are currently affected by floods.

Bihar is India’s poorest state, with some of the highest levels of child mortality and malnutrition in the country. Children are very susceptible to diseases and exposure related illnesses, which are prevalent in disaster situations. Child trafficking is already prevalent during this season and leads children to abuse and exploitation. Increased poverty resulting from flood destruction will increase the levels of child trafficking.

Save the Children responding to the floods

Save the Children has launched a global emergency appeal to help children and families affected by the floods.

Thomas Chandy, head of Save the Children in India, said: “The reported death toll is not high, but the number of people affected by this flooding is on an unimaginable scale. We are facing a huge task and desperately need more money to enable us to reach more of those children who are living in terrible conditions. We must act now to prevent the death-toll rising further as children succumb to disease, hunger or exposure while they wait.”

Save the Children is working with other aid agencies and the Government on the emergency response in the state. Save the Children responded to flooding in the region last year so will use it’s previous experience and local knowledge to reach those in need. Our immediate objective is to reach 10 000 families, including 40 000 children with relief supplies.

How you can help

To donate to help children and their families please visit www.savethechildren.in or visit your national Save the Children organisation.

More information

For more information and for interviews, please visit www.savethechildren.in or contact the Save the Children, media unit on:

In New Dehli: Anuradha C. Maharishi, 9811626122, a.maharishi@savethechildren.in , Shireen Vakil Miller , 9811552920 s.miller@savethechildren.in

More on our response

Eye Witness Accounts

Voices from India Floods - A family displaced
Esther Lieu a Child Protection Officer in India shares her experiences of the floods
Mufti Riyaz has written a blog for the Indian channel CNN IBN

Press releases

Thousands of villages still flooded, millions still homeless one month after deluge in India’s poorest state- Save the Children 19 September
Severity of Bihar floods intensifies: Five million now homeless and children face measles threat 3 September 2008
Children living on highways to escape Bihar floods killed by traffic 1 September 2008
Food price rises new threat for flood affected children in India 29 August 2008
Save the Children launches US$2 million appeal for Bihar’s Children battling the floods 27 August 2008