India floods

We are appealing for £2 million to help 10 million people affected by catastrophic floods in India.

Gopal, 9 and his friend Sonu, 9, look after three of his family’s buffaloes on the banks of a flooded river in Bihar. Madhuri Dass/Save the ChildrenHelp us to reach families who have lost everything.

With more rain expected, and no signs of the monsoon rains easing, the situation for families and children in India is getting desperate. Already, around 2,400 people have lost their lives in the worst flooding seen in Bihar and Orissa in over 50 years.

18 districts across the state of Bihar have been affected. Communities are not adequately equipped to deal with floods in these areas, which are not traditionally flood-prone.

In Orissa, the Mahanadi River has 61 breaches along its embankments, which has resulted in widespread flooding in all directions.  Villages and farmland have been devastated and an estimated 1,500 roads have been cut off by the flood waters.

A family sit in their temporary shelter in a displacement camp near Forbesganj in the Araria area of Bihar, India. Madhuri Dass/Save the Children Orissa and Bihar are already two of the poorest states in India. Now millions of people have lost their homes and their livelihoods.

Over 1,000 relief camps have been established in these two states, housing thousands of adults and children who have been left homeless. But around 600,000 people in Orissa are still said to be stranded and unable to access safety. 

Children in India

In an emergency, children are always the most vulnerable. Due to the flooding children have been left with no shelter, clean water, food or medical care and we are deeply concerned about the effect that this will have on their health, nutrition, protection and education.

We are also deeply concerned about children’s protection. The number of vulnerable children increases during an emergency, as they can become displaced from their homes and separated from their families. At this time they are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking.  Bihar has one of the worst records for child trafficking.  During the floods in 2007, 2,500 children were reported to have been trafficked. 

Watch a short clip to hear more about the situation for chidren in India.

Photos from Bihar

 



Save the Children's response

In Bihar we're aiming to help 60,000 people, including 40,000 children who have been affected by the floods. In Orissa we aim to reach 20,000 families and approximately 60,000 children with life saving support.

Child friendly spaces will also be set up where children can get support to overcome the emotional stress of the disaster and play in a safe environment, protected from the risk of trafficking.

We have also set up a family tracing and reunification project, in conjunction with UNICEF, the Government of Bihar, the Indian Red Cross and other local NGOs. Together we hope to return separated children back to their families.

We are also providing:

  • household utilities and cooking equipment such as pots and pans to displaced families
  • hygiene kits containing items such as towels, soap and mosquitto nets and providing medical assistance throughout the camps - and promoting sanitation to stop the spread of water-borne diseases. 
  • tarpaulin for shelter

What you can do

Help us to protect vulnerable children, and to provide vital supplies to families who have lost everything. Make a donation to Save the Children's emergency appeal.

Organise a fundraising event or collection. Using our fundraising guide decided what you wish to do, then let us know so we can give you all the support you need.