India: Flash Floods/Floods - Jun 2007

1.1 Background

Over the last 15 years CARE India and other NGOs have repeatedly responded to natural disasters where large numbers of people have lost their homes. These responses have frequently included both provision of short-term emergency shelter and construction of more durable housing, often designated transitional or permanent.

Key messages

• India is highly vulnerable to natural disasters including cyclones, floods, earthquakes and drought; strengthening people’s resilience to natural disasters is an essential part of the humanitarian effort.

• Three protracted crises, Jammu & Kashmir, the North-Eastern States and Naxal-affected areas in central India have created emergency needs. Years of conflict have displaced populations and left many without means to provide for themselves. Providing protection, health and nutrition remains a priority.

The study focuses on two drought-prone regions of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and a flood prone region in Orissa.

NEW DELHI, May 25, 2009 - A new World Bank report says India can further its climate resilience through a combination of measures and right incentives aimed at multiple levels of government - local, state, and national.

The Report, Climate Change Impacts in Drought-and Flood-Affected Areas: Case Studies in India is the first of its kind in South Asia Region.

On August 18, following heavy monsoon rains, the Saptakoshi River broke through an embankment in Nepal, changing course and causing flooding in southeastern Nepal and neighboring Bihar state in northeastern India. As of August 28, flooding had occurred in 13 districts of Bihar, affecting approximately 2.1 million people in more than 1,000 villages.

Annual flooding is perennial causing widespread damages year after year. With climate change the problem has augmented as States like Rajasthan are also facing annual flooding. We need to prepare ourselves as the monsoon for the current year has set in' said Prof. (Dr) S.P. Agarwal, Secretary General during the inauguration of four days Flood Response and Contingency Planning Meeting which opened at Disaster Management Center (DMC), National Headquarters, Indian Red Cross Society.

Executive Summary

A. Background to the Study

A.1 Climate Variability and Change

1. With alpine conditions, arid deserts and tropical regions, India's climate is as varied as its landscape. The summer monsoon marks the most important event in the economic calendar o f rural India. Over 70% o f the annual precipitation falls between the months o f June and September and a good monsoon heralds a bountiful harvest and financial security. But when monsoons fail, or are excessive, suffering and economic loss can be widespread.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) released $272.34 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to provide immediate relief to people in distress outside Hong Kong in the year ending March 31, 2008.

In response to appeals made by governments and international relief organisations, grants were disbursed for the early relief of victims in places outside Hong Kong hard-hit by major disasters.

For 2007-08, assistance was given through 22 relief projects operated by seven relief organisations to help needy victims tide over the calamities that had befallen them.

This report covers the period 01/01/06 to 31/12/07 of a two-year planning and appeal process.

In brief

Programme summary:

This report covers the period 01/01/06 to 31/12/07 of a two-year planning and appeal process.

In brief

Programme summary: The reporting period witnessed the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) in the midst of settling with a new leadership and building up its capacity through filling up human resource gaps at the IRCS national headquarters and the programme state branches. The strategy adopted by the IRCS national headquarters to build up its strength at the headquarters and state branches has helped it to deliver programmes more effectively.

What's a little bit of water, right?

But when a little rain, which is often initially welcomed, comes day after day and week after week - the water does become a problem. It drowns and rots the crops, kills livestock, causes rivers to overflow, causes landslides (that then destroy homes and communities), and increases the risk of diseases like malaria, dysentery and dengue fever.

In the last year, tens of millions of children and families have been directly affected by flooding - hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.

GLIDE no. FL-2007-000096-IND

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies.

This report covers the period of 01/06/07 to 31/10/07 of the 2006-07 Appeal.

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

In brief

Programme summary:

This report covers the period 01/06/07 to 31/10/07 of the 2006-07 Appeal.

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

In brief

Programme Summary:

The two main features of the past five months for the South Asia regional office were floods and planning.

This year, three key developments have influenced WHO's emergency work: 1) the increasing demands from Member States to strengthen WHO's emergency response operations; 2) the implementation of the humanitarian reform, resulting in new responsibilities for WHO; and 3) lessons learned during recent crises.

UN/ISDR 2008/01

2007 saw a marked increase in the number of floods compared with the average of the last seven years, and Asia was the continent hit hardest by disasters according to figures released today by the Belgian WHO collaborating Center for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED).

This report covers the period 1/6/07 to 31/10/07 of the 2006 -2007 Appeal

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

In brief

Programme Summary:

The second half of 2007 has been a particularly challenging period for the Asia Pacific Service Centre (APSC).

Disaster Situation

Since early June, heavy rains and typhoons have caused serious flooding and landslides in South Asia. Among the most severely affected countries are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. By the 14th of December, 73.9 million people were affected, about 156,000 families were displaced and more than 2 million houses were completely destroyed or damaged.

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies.

This funding support plan seeks CHF 5,780,450 (USD 5.17 million or EUR 3.5 million) to fund the planned programmes to be implemented in 2008-2009. The overall budget is CHF 6,873,281 (USD 6.5 million or EUR 4.17 million). Click here for budget summary.

This funding support plan document sets out briefly the main outcomes the programmes seek to achieve over the next two years. More detailed information is provided in the 2008-2009 Programme Support Plan and Summary Matrix.

This appeal seeks CHF 2,019,827 (USD 1.8 million or EUR 1.22 million) to fund the planned programmes to be implemented in 2008-2009. Click here for budget summary.

This amount will be supplemented by CHF 8.2 million from the core budget to give an overall budget of CHF 10,219,826 (USD 9.14 million or EUR 6.19 million).