Appeal Number: 6956
Appeal Amount: $75,000
Situation Report
(Note: the appeal amount is $75,000; CWS Blanket Funds to be provided is $40,000; appeal balance needed: $35,000)
The death toll from monsoon-induced floods in India continues to rise as heavy rains further exacerbate problems in the northeast Indian states of Assam and Bihar. More than 200 have died in the floods.
More than 3.5 million people have been displaced by floods in Assam and 1 million in Bihar. It is estimated that some 20,000 people are stranded in a single district of Assam, where more than a dozen emergency camps have been set up to provide shelter, food, clothing and medicine for the homeless.
Assessment
CWS is responding by supporting response efforts by long-time partner Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), which has already started distributing pre- stocked emergency materials. In addition, CASA is conducting an assessment of short-term and long-term needs in the affected areas. As part of this appeal, CWS is sending $40,000 in CWS Blanket Funds to CASA.
Emergency Appeal
CASA is responding in the eastern states of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. CASA reports that the situation is dire, with many rural, isolated villages cut off from food supplies. CASA said in co-operation with partners, it is taking every precaution to ensure that the relief supplies are not looted and that they reach the selected areas.
CASA plans to provide the affected population with dry ration kits, tarpaulins, clothing, blankets and kitchen utensils. These measures will be targeted at providing immediate relief to the most marginalized and weakest sections of the society during the crisis phase. The relief programme will be implemented directly by CASA, with the assistance and co-operation of local churches and NGO partners.
Specifically, clothing, blankets, kitchen utensils (as part of relief kits) and dry food rations to 18,000 families; tarps to 9,000 families.
The relief kits include 1 sari, 1 dhoti, 1 blanket, 1 set of 9-piece aluminium kitchen utensils (to enable the families to cook their meals).
The tarps -- 18 feet by 12 feet -- will be distributed to enable the flood survivors to set up temporary homes until they are able to reclaim/rebuild their original homes.
Dry ration kits consisting of 10 kgs rice, 2kgs dal (lentils), 1 litre edible oil, 1 kg salt, 1 packet of matchboxes and one packet of candles.
The relief material (utensil & clothing and blankets) will be sourced from CASA's existing disaster preparedness stocks from several locations in the Eastern Zone.
In addition, CASA plans to construct 10 flood shelters in Assam for chronically flood-affected villages in the most vulnerable areas. Plans for these will be detailed in a later appeal.
BUDGET:
DIRECT ASSISTANCE (including food): $361,013
TRANSPORT, STORAGE, HANDLING & RELATED COSTS: $16,119
PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS & OTHER SUPPORT COSTS: $24,037
AUDIT & EVALUATION: $865
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE: $402,034
As noted, CWS-ERP is issuing this appeal for $75,000 but is providing $40,000 in CWS Blanket Funds, with the remaining amount being sought of $35,000.
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, India Asst. to Flood Affected # 6956 (Ref # ASIN-33) P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516.
Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516.
For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding -- or to make a credit card contribution --please visit the Church World Service Website at www.churchworldservice.org or phone (800) 297-1516. Contributions may be sent via regular mail to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515.
CWS Emergency Response Program special
contacts: (212) 870-3151; International: dderr@churchworldservice.org
Domestic: lreedbrown@churchworldservice.org
web site: www.cwserp.org