South Asia floods: Plan continues to help affected communities

A young boy receiving medicines at a Plan health camp in Bihar, India

4 December 2007: The floods that hit India, Bangladesh and Nepal in August 2007 and left millions homeless have been receding - but life is still a struggle for the survivors, many of which are still living in temporary shelters, facing hunger, and risking death from disease outbursts.

Stop preventable death

Plan staff and volunteers continue to work around the clock to organise health camps, distribute temporary shelters and toilets, health kits, dry rations, food grains, bleaching powder, chlorine tablets to purify water, and carbolic acid bottles to curb snake bites, as well as educating families on the importance of sanitation.

Virendra Kumar, a teenage boy from Muzzaffarpur, India, says:

“During and after the flood we were in a very bad condition. Many people were suffering from different kinds of disease, but Plan provided us with all kinds of support including 24 hour free health camps. Their contribution is very much appreciated.”

Improve livelihood

The floods have also destroyed crops which are the main source of income for people in Bihar, one of the poorest states in India. As a result, the price of food and household commodities has gone up drastically. Men are forced to search for work in other states, leaving women and children even more vulnerable.

Plan works closely with the local governments to make sure the families have access to various government provisions and schemes. Pre-school activities are arranged for young children to free up their parents, while Plan livelihood volunteers work with communities and self-help groups on disaster prevention and mitigation.

Children also 'act'

Children are also helping to develop and spread the message on sanitation and disaster prevention through wall newspapers, rallies, and radio and theatre programs.

Kanchan Kumari, member of a child club in Bihar, says:

“During the flood, diseases like diarrhoea were breaking out but through Plan’s programs we educate our friends and neighbours about disaster prevention and reduction. Now we are aware of the importance of a proper toilet and chlorine-tested water.”

Help us assist those affected

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