EFICOR intervenes in the Bihar floods

Bihar is one of the most disaster prone states in India . It is situated in the eastern part of India with the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal to its north and the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh flanking its sides.

It is today home to more than 90 million Indians. Heavy rain in the upper catchment areas of Nepal has resulted in the rise of the water levels of all the major rivers of Bihar and so far 13 districts (out of a total of 38 districts) have been affected by the flood waters.

The worst affected districts are Darbhanga, Sheohar, Madhubani and Sitamarhi. A total of 20 million people have been affected. The flooding has so far claimed more than 86 lives, 917 cattle, damaging 323,351 houses. The flooding has affected 192.63 lakhs people , damaged 11.28 lakhs hectares of crops, rendered many homeless; some of them evacuated to safer places; others yet to be rescued.

Railway bridges and tracks have been completely washed out in several places in Bihar . Other bridges and culverts are also extensively damaged. People from many villages do not have access to towns or relief camps due to the water level. 10, 000 rail passengers have been stranded at different stations.

Although some people are being sheltered in ad hoc relief camps, most flood-affected people are staying on the highways with their children and animals without proper shelter, clothes, food and drinking water. Therefore the beneficiaries are seeking assistance from the government and local NGOs.

EFICOR has disaster response experience in situations of drought, cyclone, flooding, epidemics and earthquakes. It also provides training in project management and disaster management through workshops/ seminars for smaller local partners. EFICOR has extensive experience in disaster intervention encompassing all phases of the disaster cycle. In the year 2002, EFICOR carried out a major relief operation in the Darbhanga district of Bihar. It was also involved in major relief interventions during the Cyclone in Orissa (1999) and during the aftermath of the major earthquake in Gujarat (2001).

On hearing the magnitude of the disaster, EFICOR staff from various project sites moved to three positions in Bihar ( Patna , Muzaffarpur and Begusarai) and are conducting rapid assessment surveys.

At the same time, 3 partners have been identified and modest relief interventions are being initiated at Raxual (East Champaran District), Madhepura, (Madhepura District) Begusarai (Begusarai District) with the Tearfund UK Grant.

Information that has been coming into the Head quarters from our staff at Bihar , have signified that a major intervention is warranted in the most affected districts of Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Madhubani. Efforts are underway to conduct rapid assessments in specific blocks of the 3 districts. This concept paper addresses this major intervention that EFICOR plans to start immediately.

It is proposed that a major relief operation targeting 10,000 families in the 3 districts of Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Madhubani will be taken by EFICOR. The relief kit would include food materials, utensils, children’s kit, hygiene kits, water purification tablets, plastic sheets/tarpaulins and medical assistance. More details of the actual blocks/villages that will be targeted is awaited from the field. Medical assistance would be provided by our partner agency – Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA)

The rapid assessment team is selecting the target areas for intervention. The views of the community, other NGOs and government will be taken into account while selecting the beneficiaries. The intervention will seek, through this collaboration, to meet the unmet needs of the displaced families. Within them the women, children, elderly and disabled will be recognised as being most vulnerable.

One EFICOR Staff is attending the NGO/Government meetings in Patna (State capital) and other staff positioned in other districts are attending similar meetings at the local district levels. This is to coordinate relief efforts thus attempting to avoid duplication and to standardise relief provisions. Staff of Partners in the affected area will be in regular contact with the Government Special Relief Commissioner and the concerned District Collectors.

The DCC (Disaster Coordination Committee) consisting of 3 partners (EFICOR, EHA & Discipleship centre) are networking together by assisting each other with information on interventions.

Any funding indication, pledge or donations should be communicated to the following address. Donations on the internet is currently not available.

EFICOR
308 Mahatta Tower
B Block Community Centre
Janakpuri
New Delhi 110 058

Telefax +91-11-25516383/4/5
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