The relief intervention in Bihar is continuing in full swing, according to a report made by the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR). Because of the large impact of the floods, staffs from different fields have been posted in Muzaffarpur, Madhubani and Samastipur to coordinate the relief activities.

EFICOR reported that the overall situation registered marked improvement with water level receding and in districts like Samastipur, Madhubani and Muzaffarpur, and movement by roads has improved.

The local markets have opened but are not totally accessible to the village communities. “EFICOR is now acquiring food materials from the local markets in Muzzafarpur,” said Sheila George of EFICOR. “The delivery of the materials will be at the site to prevent looting.”

According to George, EFICOR staff is co-coordinating the relief activities at the site. “Two coordination committee meetings were held at Madhubani and Muzzafarpur,” George said.

The coordination committee—that include church pastors and elders and representatives of Mission agencies in the area—met regarding planning of distribution and related topics. They also reviewed the initial intervention.

So far, as part of their initial response, EFICOR has distributed rations to a total of 9,895 families, however due the heavy rains and water logging, only dry food items have been provided.

Meanwhile, the medical team from EFICOR partner, the Emmanuel Hospital Association, is holding medical camps at various places to treat the flood-affected people, and Community Development Organisers undergoing training in EFICOR have been sent to the relief site and will be there for 10 days to understand the activities being done during relief intervention.

EFICOR also reports that relief work has now been completed in Begusarai and Madhepura.

Currently volunteers are involved in packing and distribution of relief materials. For the second phase, EFICOR and partners plan to give relief to 17,000 families from Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Madhubani. Also, 7000 packets of food are to be completed by August 23 for distribution and another 10,000 packets to be packed thereafter. While the packing is being done, the distribution has also simultaneously begun in Baniwal village, Muzaffarpur.

Meanwhile, the distribution of food, which started on August 18, is expected to finish by August 31 on the basis of the survey cards issued.

EFICOR is currently conducting a house-to-house survey to identify 17,000 most vulnerable families in the 3 districts.





Kenneth Chan
Ecumenical Press