ReliefWeb

Geneva, 4 July 2005 - Heavy monsoon rains in Gujarat have caused severe flooding and rendered more than one million people homeless. The army has been deployed to assist rescue and relief operations and schools and colleges have been closed in some parts of the state. The BBC reports that rail and road transport in many parts of the state have been badly hit. The flood situation in 3 districts of Madhya Pradesh is also alarming and the army is engaged in evacuating large number of people to safer places.
In Gujarat, ACT International member Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) has already started a feeding programme for evacuees living in temporary shelters and have assisted about 2,500 people since 1 July 2005. However, the number currently being assisted stands at 9,000 and is likely to increase. Similar measures are being taken in Madhya Pradesh. In Gujarat, CASA has deployed 3 teams of emergency staff who are working with CASA network partners engaged in carrying out feeding programmes. In Madhya Pradesh, CASA will be working mainly with partner organisations who are based near the flood affected regions.

The situation is rapidly deteriorating and CASA is currently working on an appeal that will be completed within the next few days. Initially, CASA is planning to assist up to 10,000 families with food and basic assistance for an estimated cost of around US$ 400,000. However, if rains continue, the situation my deteriorate to such an extent that the proposal will need to be revised for a higher number of people.

ACT International member Lutheran World Service, India (LWSI) will also be responding and is preparing an appeal to assist around 10,000 families.

ACT members in the area -- Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI), and the Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) are in contact with each other to co-ordinate the response.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).

Thank you for your attention.

For further information please contact:

ACT Director, White Rakuba (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or
ACT Program Officer, Mieke Weeda (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone +41 79 285 2916)

ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org