NEW DELHI
Following a rapid assessment, Oxfam India is preparing for immediate relief and assistance to people affected by one of the worst floods in the history of Kerala.
More than 1 million people have been affected, over 3.1 lakh people have been displaced and 324 lives lost.
Oxfam India will respond with clean water, hygiene, emergency food security and temporary shelter support in Idduki and Wayanad districts of Kerala.
We will extend the humanitarian assistance from the two districts to three mores districts — Alappuzha, Palakkad and Pathanamthitta.
“We will put all our accumulated experiences on water, hygiene and sanitation into action in Kerala. Our energies will be dedicated to providing safe drinking water. Our rapid assessment confirms that we will have to make existing toilets functional and build new temporary toilets. Village cleaning drives, debris removal and imparting of soft skills for ensuring cleanliness would have to be undertaken to prevent outbreak of epidemic. Personal hygiene of women and girls in particular will also be our top priority and therefore we are prepared for large scale distribution of ‘dignity kits’ in the most underserved areas,” said Pankaj Anand, Director Programs and Humanitarian Response.
Floods and landslides have caused massive destruction. Houses in most districts are submerged and inaccessible, crop and cattle damaged, airport is closed, public transport system suspended, phone towers broken, power-supply is out, people are stranded, running out of food and clean water and making desperate appeals for help through social media and other channels.
“Roads have become rivers, these floods are unprecedented and pervasive. People were not prepared and everyone is out to help yet thousands are still unreachable in interiors of the state. Dams are still open and the water is over-flowing as heavy rainfall continues. Right now the priority is to rescue stranded people, there is an immediate requirement for dry food, clean water, medical supplies, clothes, sanitary napkins, diapers for kids among other things,” said Mini John, Management Coordinator at Institute for Sustainable Development and Governance, who resides in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.
Government rescue teams and Army has been pressed into action. Helplines have been set up to provide information about those stranded, around 2000 relief camps have been set up. However, the scale of calamity has affected operations and made it difficult for the rescue teams to work.
Oxfam India is coordinating with the government and working with local partners and other non-governmental organisations to ensure maximum support to affected people.
“We are concerned about the rising death toll, the situation is grim and the scale of the tragedy will not be clear until affected areas become more accessible. While rescue and relief are highest priorities in the short term to save lives, the enormity of catastrophe will require a long road to recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Multiple agencies must come together to provide relief. International community will have to back the efforts that the government and Indian people are making to deal with the unprecedented crisis in Kerala,” said Amitabh Behar, Oxfam India CEO.
PRESS RELEASE