Geneva, August 6, 2007 Members of
the global alliance, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, continue
to respond to multiple floods crises across vast regions of Asia. Reuters
reports that 35 million people are affected by the crisis in India, Bangladesh
and Nepal alone. China and Pakistan have also suffered torrential rains
and floods in the past month.
As ACT members respond, they are seeking to impact and meet the needs of
the most vulnerable in the midst of this widespread crisis. ACT members
also suggest that climate change is a factor in this increasingly torrential
monsoon season with its resulting humanitarian emergencies.
In Bangladesh, ACT member Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) is currently responding and assisting 16,000 families through food and non-food item distribution. RDRS and other ACT members, including the National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh (Koinonia) and the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), are also planning a response and possible appeal for the flood situation in the country.
ACT's member in China, the Amity Foundation, is launching an appeal the week of August 6, 2007 through ACT to respond to the flood emergency in the Chongqing municipality and also the Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. Amity plans to impact 5,000 homeless and severely affected families through their response. Planned emergency assistance includes distribution of food and non-food items as well as rehabilitation of drinking water systems, irrigation systems, houses, clinics and schools.
At the beginning of August, ACT member Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Nepal began food assistance to 5,000 people in specifically targeted vulnerable villages. Other assistance by LWF includes the distribution of non-food items and roofing to more than 550 families. Plans for a larger appeal for the country are still being assessed by LWF.
ACT members in India, Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and Lutheran World Service India (LWSI), began assisting flood-affected families at the beginning of August in the West Midnapore district in West Bengal. ACT members are supporting 2,700 flood-affected families by providing non-food items including blankets, clothing and home utensils. Initial funding of USD $50,000 came from the ACT Rapid Response Fund. Members in India are currently assessing the needs for an appeal and longer-term response in West Benghal.
In another crisis in India, ACT members, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) and CASA, responded to severe flooding and flash floods in the province of Andhra Pradesh at the end of June. Their response included food assistance for 6,450 affected families and was funded through the ACT Rapid Response Fund. In the second week of July, CASA and UELCI launched an appeal through ACT for continued assistance to 58,500 people in Andhra Pradesh.
Also beginning at the end of June, the Pakistan/Afghanistan office of ACT member Church World Service (CWS) began responding to the Pakistan flood situation in Gadap and Sindh. CWS provided immediate food assistance and also distributed non-food items to vulnerable families with support from the ACT Rapid Response Fund. Further work is being done to coordinate a larger appeal for the wider region including the hard-hit Balochistan province.
The ACT International Coordinating Office works closely with its members to ensure appropriate assessment and coordination with governments, UN agencies, churches and other responders in all of their humanitarian assistance.
Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.
For further information, please contact:
Callie Long, ACT Communications Officer (office: +41 22 791 6039 / mobile: +41 79 358 3171)
Sidney Traynham, ACT Assistant Communications Officer (office: +41 22 791 6711 / mobile: +41 79 681 1868)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org