World Vision India responding to harsh South India floods
The northeast monsoon left a trail of destruction in the state of Tamil Nadu and is causing heavy downpour and floods in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh as well, leaving more than 1.8 million people affected overall.
World Vision India is aiming to provide immediate relief items to 50,000 people in the worst-affected communities in the Chennai city, Cuddalore, Nellore and Kandukur, depending on funding availability.
See a vlog from a distribution centre
On the ground
So far, as per official data, the incessant rains and the flooding have claimed the lives of more than 200 people in the two states. The four northern coastal districts of Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur and Tuticorin, were the most severely affected, having received the most rainfall.
The government's initial assessment reports say that the state of Tamil Nadu has suffered damages worth Rs. 8481 crore (approx. $1.2 billion USD). The capital city of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, which is one of the worst affected in the state has over 870 localities inundated. The city administration is still struggling to clear water from more than 170 localities in the city.
According to government reports, over 400,000 people have been shifted to relief camps. And there is widespread damage to government infrastructure, houses, roads, bridges, storm water drainage systems, water supply systems, and electricity supply systems.
In rural areas, standing crops and agricultural lands have been severely damaged.
The government has pressed its best officials into action to carry out rescue and relief operations. The state government sanctioned Rs.500 crores (approx. $75 million USD) and the central government yesterday sanctioned a further Rs.940 crores (approx. $141 million USD) relief package for the state.
The state of Andhra Pradesh has been witnessing heavy downpour for the last week. Anantapur, Godavari, Chittoor, Kadapa, Machilipatinam and Nellore are among the worst affected districts, where continuous rains have led to flooding in many villages and towns.
World Vision India's Response
Most of World Vision India's operational areas in Chennai have been affected, with more than 9000 registered children in our programmes there. All children are safe, but many families and children are in need of food, water, mosquito nets and blankets. With many still put up in relief camps, and water stagnation still an issue, the risk of water born diseases is huge.
So far, World Vision India has been able to reach out to around 6,000 people in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh with food and drinking water. In Chennai, World Vision India also distributed Non-Food Item (NFI) kits to 250 households from the slums in the city, that were worst affected, in addition to cooked food to more than 2,000 people.
In Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, programme staff distributed food packets and potable water to 4,000 people.
“We left everything there. The water came in very quickly. Most of our belongings have become useless now. We need mosquito nets here. We’re worried that our children will fall sick from mosquito bites. Most of us have come here just with the clothes we wearing. We need a change of clothes," said Jaya, a community based orgnisation leader from World Vision’s Saidapet programme area.
Most of World Vision India's operational areas that are affected are slums and settlements in the city that are along reservoirs and lakes in the city.