On 9th August, the UK-based Christian charity, Christian Aid issued a report on its work in the Asia floods. During the summer, floods have continuously threatened the lives of many innocent people in Bangladesh, India and China. Christian Aid is now supporting the local partner organisations to cope with the disasters.

Bangladesh
The aid work in Bangladesh is mainly led by the Christian Commission for Development, together with eight other partner organisations, including Christian Aid. They supply emergency food, water sterilising tablets and oral rehydration salts to counter the effects of diarrhoea, which is responsible for the largest number of deaths.

The summer harvest and the rice seedlings which should be planted now for a winter harvest, have all been destroyed in the floods, and so the next serious challenge will be a food shortage. Partner organisation UBINIG reports its Seed Wealth Centres, which helps communities save local seed varieties, are on standby to help.

The organisations have all prepared for emergency work as in some locations, the risk of more rainfall and high tides exist. For other safer locations, post-flood rehabilitation work is planned to start as soon as possible when the floods recede. Actions include rebuilding homes and repairing damaged infrastructures such as schools, wells and embankments.

According to Christian Aid’s research, currently three quarters of Bangladesh is under water, 30 million people are seriously affected and the death toll stands at over 600. Hundreds of millions of US dollars’ worth of damage had been done to crops, livestock, fisheries and infrastructure. This has now been recorded as the most damaging flood the area has seen in the past 15 years.

India (States of Assam and Bihar)
Christian Aid is putting its priority focus at Bihar, where over 21 million people in 20 districts have been affected, and 568 lives lost. Christian Aid has given its full support to its local partner, Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), who are distributing essential items such as food, clothing, shelter, blankets, hygiene kits and flood shelters.

Some villages at Assam are even in danger of being washed away completely. Not until the flood recedes can Christian Aid estimate the extent of damage. However, it is thought this already poor state will have been set back by at least ten years.

China
The two most affected provinces are Yunnan in the southwest and Hunan in central China. Here, Christian Aid is working with the Amity Foundation, and together they are trying to meet the basic needs of the 6,000 homeless and seriously affected families. Activities taking place include the distribution of medicines, food, bedding and mosquito nets and the reconstruction of schools, houses and irrigation works.

Conclusion
Christian Aid have stated their belief that long-term work is required to help communities prepare themselves for floods and other disasters. This, they say will help to save lives and is the key to minimising the impact of future catastrophes. It has recently appointed an Emergency Preparedness Manager, based in New Delhi, to carry forward its longstanding programme of work in this area.